"Sweetie, where's my briefcase? I've got to be early for this job interview."
Clara's voice floated from the kitchen. "I'm coming with it, honey. Just trying to pack breakfast for you."
I sighed, already feeling the tightness of the day around me. "You don't have to, sweetie. I haven't even landed the job yet and...
"No, no, no, babe, don't say that. You'll get it. You're overqualified!"
There it was again—that pet name. "Babe." A nickname that held too many echoes, one I hadn't quite shaken off. Only one person used to call me that, and while I'd rather deny it, there was no pretending I didn't miss her. But it was an ache buried deep. I was done with that life, living what most would call a dream—besides the job hunt, of course. A few years back, I had it all, until the company folded, taking my easy ride along with it. That's Michigan for you: unpredictable. The government could just wake up one day and decide to raze your entire life for some new project.
Damn these Michigan laws. But I wasn't one to dwell on things I couldn't change. Here I was, living in a comfortable condo with a beautiful woman by my side, sipping Bourbon at night, indulging in all the pleasures life offered. This life wasn't perfect, but it was free. I didn't owe anyone explanations. Still, Clara needed to stop saying that word—babe. Every time she did, it pulled me back to that past life, to a woman I'd rather forget.
"Here you go!" Clara appeared, smiling as she handed me the briefcase and a thermos. "Fingers crossed you come back today with an offer."
"Yeah, fingers crossed," I echoed, forcing a smile. She was wonderful—maybe even everything I needed— and yet, when she said that word, it was like a magnet pulling me back to Vivi. That uncomfortable feeling stirred again, one I didn't enjoy acknowledging. My life now wasn't perfect, but it was mine. So why was I thinking about her today, of all days?
As I got into my car and pulled away from the condo, my mind wandered back to when I first met Vivi. I didn't want to go there—yet the memory took hold, vivid and intense, like it had happened just yesterday.
Flashback
I was running late for work, as usual, but there was no skipping my morning coffee. Slauson Café was my go-to. They made the best brew, and the smell alone made up for Michigan's freezing mornings.
"Good morning, Arnold. The usual, please."
Arnold, the barista, greeted me with his usual warmth. "Good morning, Ethan. Big day ahead?"
"Yeah, one of those days. Can't wait for it to be over," I replied, half-laughing.
Just then, she walked in—Vivian. She was like a force that could halt everything around her. I remember how her confidence was almost tangible, like she wore it along with her perfectly tailored pantsuit. That first moment, something shifted. I wasn't leaving that café until I'd at least introduced myself.
Clearing my throat in what was probably a cringe-worthy attempt at smoothness, I said, "Good morning, milady. What can I offer you?"
She looked up, amused, with an eyebrow raised and a smirk. "Is this how you make the ladies fall for you?" she asked, her voice filled with playful skepticism.
"Not the ladies. Just you." I must've looked ridiculous, but she actually laughed, tears streaming down her face, and I couldn't help but join in. I could've stood there forever just watching her laugh.
And then she extended her hand. "Vivian Langston. Nice to meet you."
"Ethan Stanley, very nice to meet you." Her hand felt warm, grounding me in a way that was both terrifying and exhilarating.
Arnold handed me my coffee, reminding me I was already running late. But I didn't care—I was all in. "Probably too soon to ask, but... can I get your number?"
She smiled—that beautiful smile I'd come to crave. "You're straightforward. I like straightforward," she said and scribbled her number on a napkin.
We both had places to be, but in that moment, I knew I'd found someone who could be the center of my world. I didn't know it then, but that was the moment that eventually led to my undoing.
Back in the present, I shook off the memory and tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Why was my mind wandering back to her lately? Vivi belonged to a chapter I'd closed. I was living my life now, and whatever I'd felt for her was buried deep. But for some reason, this morning, every part of me felt like I was still chasing the shadow of a life I couldn't quite forget.
Vivian's POV
Nica and I arrived at Michigan's airport, both of us feeling the weight of coming home. It had been two long years since I'd seen my dad, and although my mom had come to visit, it wasn't the same as being home.
"Okay, Nica, before we head to Mom and Dad's, we need to make a quick stop."
She raised an eyebrow, giving me that knowing look. "A stop for what?"
"You know, the usual. Gifts for Mom and Dad. Maybe a few groceries, too, so we're not just barging in empty-handed."
Nica sighed, a smirk forming. "Of course, Miss Thoughtful. That's why I have you."
I rolled my eyes. Typical Nica, always acting like the cool, unbothered twin while I handled the details. We grabbed everything on my mental checklist, and I even treated myself to a new set of makeup, a subtle reminder that I wasn't the same Vivi who had left Michigan with a broken heart. This time, I was returning as someone stronger, someone who had left her baggage in the past.
Finally, we pulled up to our parents' condo, a cozy place nestled among trees with a view that always made me feel at peace. My heart lifted when I saw my parents already outside, waiting for us in the yard, a barbecue in full swing. A real homecoming.
"My babies! You made it!" Dad's voice boomed with excitement.
"Hey, Dad! Missed me?" I called out, already running to hug him.
"Always, sweetheart." He pulled me into his arms, and I felt a wave of relief. Being here reminded me of the love and security I'd craved during my marriage—the things that no amount of material comfort could replace.
"And what about me?" Nica piped in, feigning offense as usual.
Mom laughed, pulling her into a hug as well. "Now, you both need to relax. We've missed you both equally."
"Yup, that's right," Dad agreed. "Now, let's get inside. The staff will handle your bags."
As we stepped into the house, a warmth settled over me, one that had been absent for too long. I was home, and for the first time in years, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.
But as I glanced around, breathing in the familiar sights and sounds, a part of me wondered if the shadows of my past were waiting somewhere, ready to resurface.