Page 49 of When We Are Complete

A couple of weeks later, I saw him with Jenny—laughing with her in the very same spot where we’d fought. Jake Tanner, the guy I’d planned my whole summer around, was holding her hand, walking withher.

I remember storming down to the lighthouse that night, the wind whipping my hair and the salt from the ocean stinging my cheeks. I sat on the rocks until the waves numbed the hollowness in my chest. It was supposed to be Jake and me against the world, not Jake and... her.

One fight, one break, and everything changed.

Before I can untangle the mess in my head, Jake touches my arm gently.

“Come on, I’ll re-introduce you guys,” he says. “It’s been a long time.”

Nora gives me a look, and I brace myself as Jake leads me toward Jenny. Every step closer is a test of my resolve, and I think about all the ways this could go horribly wrong.

Jenny stands as we approach, smoothing her hands down her jeans, a smile already in place. Her two sons dart past, laughing and chasing each other, and for a moment, the noise fills the space between us.

“Hey, Jen,” Jake says, his voice easy, casual, as though this isn’t completely surreal. He gestures toward me. “You remember Kelly.”

I half-expect her to bristle, or maybe even pretend she doesn’t, but instead, Jenny holds out her hand, what can only be described as a welcoming expression on her face. “Of course I do. It’s nice to see you again, Kelly. I heard you were back in town.”

I blink, surprised by how nice she is, and hesitate for only a second before taking her hand, the tension in my shoulders loosening just a little. “It’s nice to see you, too.”

“It’s been a while,” Jenny says, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear. “Jake told me you were working on the Founder’s Day Festival this year with him? It’s a small world.”

“Yeah,” I glance at Jake, who’s watching us. “The mayor wants it to be bigger and better than ever before. I’m just trying to make sure everything stays on track with this awful weather that we’ve been having and the bad storms that have been predicted.”

Jenny laughs. “Well, if anyone can pull it off, it’s you. You’ve always been the hardest worker I’ve ever met. You used to get straight As in school, if I remember right.”

My guard lowers just a bit more. This isn’t the cold, awkward encounter I’d been expecting. She’s being…nice. I wasn’t prepared for that.

“Thanks,” I say. “Let’s just hope you’re right.”

There’s a brief lull, and I glance around, watching as Adele comes out onto the deck with her friends for food. Jake moves to join them, handing out drinks and plates, joking with the girls. Seeing him relaxed and completely at ease in his role as a father—it’s a side I haven’t seen before.

Part of me can’t help but wonder what it would be like to be part of this picture, to step fully into the life he’s built here. It’s strange and new, but almost as if… almost as if this isexactlywhere I’m meant to be.

Jenny catches me watching him. “He’s good with her and her friends, isn’t he? He’s a great dad.” There’s nothing in her voice except pride.

Hearing Jenny talk about him, about the man he’s become, softens something deep inside me. My eyes flick to Jake as he catches my gaze across the yard, a half-smile pulling at his lips. He’s not just Jake, my teenage love—Nora was right, he’s grown, changed in ways I haven’t fully appreciated yet. There’s a depthto him now, sides of him that I didn’t get to see when we were teenagers.

“He really is,” I admit, my throat a little dry.

“After our divorce, we worked hard to make sure Adele knows we’re both here for her, no matter what. It’s not always easy, especially lately. Parenting a teenager is no joke. But Jake’s been great.”

I swallow. “You’re both doing a good job. Adele is lucky to have you.”

I catch Jenny’s eye again, and she offers me a small, understanding look. “It’s good to see you again. Really.”

“Yeah,” I say. “You too.”

As I walk back to Nora, I watch Jake laugh with Adele, the moment settling around me, and I take a seat. Some of my resolve to take things slow emotionally, to guard my heart, seems to have melted a little.

“How was that?” Nora whispers.

“Weirdly fine,” I reply.

“You should listen to me more often. I’m rarely wrong.” She pokes her tongue out as Antonio passes us a couple of plates, and I elbow her, before loading up my plate with mostly salad, surprised how glad I am that we came.

Chapter 28

Kelly

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