Nicolas

Whatever Jake has planned, I know he's up to no good. Seeing as our offices are right next to each other, I know for a fact that he could find me with ease if he really wanted something.

For whatever reason, I continue to humor him every day. With how deep our friendship runs, it has to be what is keeping my sanity in check.

After a trip down to the lobby, my hunt for him begins. As always, I smell my favorite scent of coffee beans in the air. Before I hunt down my friend, I may have to indulge.

Alongside the coffee scent, something new lingers in the air. Something sweet. Assuming the shop decided to add a few new additions to its menu, I head over to take a closer look.

It's only once I am standing in the middle of the lobby that I see the new addition added right next door.

Spotting a familiar head of blonde hair, I come to a sudden halt. Catching my foot on the carpet, I barely avoid making a fool out of myself.

Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or is Eloise Tanner running a bakery right next to my favorite coffee shop?

There's no way. I am imagining things.

Silently, I take a few more steps forward to get a better look.

The blonde is smiling, working alongside another face I recognize simply through social media. I'm even more confident now. It is her.

My chest feels tight as the air trapped in my lungs burns from a lack of release. No matter how badly I need to breathe, I've completely forgotten how to do one of the most basic things. Breathing should come naturally, so why can't I do something so simple?

For the first time in my life, I've been left speechless.

Across the lobby behind a pastel counter is Eloise Tanner.

The woman who I let slip past my fingers so she could follow her dream. The one I've never been able to forget.

She's here. At StartBit Tech of all places. Questions start building up in my mind, none with any sort of answers. What I need to know is how she'd end up here without me knowing.

The answer comes with a sudden slap to my back. Inhaling sharply, my head spins as air circulates through my body.

"Cute little thing, isn't she?" Rather than wearing his normal smile, Jake has a glint of mischief hiding behind that curve. "Doesn't hurt that she can bake a mean cupcake. Today's opening day. Can you believe it? Oh, how time flies."

He had told me we were getting a new food place, he never mentioned a bakery. Even if he had, I would've never thought he'd find a person from my past to taunt me.

"What did you do?"

He sighs at my side, seemingly disappointed with my reaction. "I wanted to surprise you. From the looks of it, I can't tell how you're handling my gift."

His gift. What is he expecting, me to thank him? The only reason why I haven't melted down is the fact that we're surrounded by people who work below us. I'm supposed to leave an impression here.

"Let's go say hi." Much to my dismay, Jake turns away and starts walking in the direction of the bakery.

I am moving before my brain can catch up. Trying to wrap my mind around everything happening, I realize how much I am at a loss for words.

I never thought I would see her again. Well, not in person. Up until now, I was satisfied with watching her from the safety of my phone. Now she's right here and I don't know what to do with myself.

"I don't know how you found her, but if I don't end up killing you, count yourself lucky." Choking on my threat, I clear my throat.

Looking far more calm and collected, he chuckles. Reaching the counter, he rests his body against it and waves a hand to get both women's attention. I watch the way Eloise's smile appears rather instantly. Good to know they've had plenty of time to get to know each other.

Swallowing thickly, I watch her abandon her work and stroll in our direction. With her, she carries the source of the sweet smell I inhaled earlier. No wonder I grew so curious from the beginning. Even without knowing it was her at the time, something like this comes naturally.

Looking my way for only a moment, she quickly does a double take. Reacting similarly to what I had, she looks outright horrified as she reaches the other side of the counter. However, she does not have a talent for covering it up as I do.

"I wanted you to meet someone important." Jake offers a hand in my direction. "This is–"

"Nicolas," she interrupts as her brows lifts. "Is that you?"

There's a low stirring in my gut at the discovery that she still remembers me. It's a momentary distraction. Even if she has never thought about me in the last handful of years, hearing my name in her sweet voice helps clear up my thoughts a bit.

Completely forgetting that Jake is standing right here as a spectator, a soft smile comes to my lips.

"You look good, Eloise." Understatement of the century. "I'm surprised to see you here."

Surprised I can talk to her without choking on my tongue, I chase this feeling and wonder why I haven't reached out to her after all of this time.

"Oh you know each other," Jake feigns his surprise. "Should I give you two a moment to catch up?"

Eloise doesn't answer, she's too busy staring at me. Looking a bit rendered speechless as well, she takes in my appearance.

"Yes," I answer, fighting the urge to glare in his direction. Hating that he set this up behind my back, a small part of me wants to thank him. However, I won't give him that satisfaction.

Chuckling under his breath, he takes his cue and strolls away with the promise of returning later.

"Small world," she murmurs as her fingers tangle against the counter. "The last time I saw you, you were working in your uncle's garage. I wouldn't have expected to find you at some technology-related business. What made you leave fixing cars?"

In short, she's the reason. However, I can't go confessing that during our first conversation in ages.

"Needed a change in life. Got accepted into business school and met Jake." I won't suddenly give her a long speech on Jake and Rhett's past, I'll save that for a better time. Possibly when she isn't currently working.

That's to say if she's willing to have another conversation with me after this one.

"It seems you took a similar path." I take in her small bakery with a sigh. "You followed your dream after all."

Even though she had to leave everything behind, she made it by carving her own path. I'm happy for her.

"It wasn't easy, but yeah. I've hit a few walls." She stirs slightly, her nerves getting the best of her. "You look good, Nicolas. I'm glad we're both in a place we want to be. I guess you could say it's the same place. Funny how fate works."

My heart feels like it's being squeezed by her very fingers as she compliments me.

I return her compliment with one of my own while fighting not to take in the small details of her appearance up close. She's curvier than before, aged with the years. Her mouth is plump, her cheeks naturally stained pink. Eloise is gorgeous in person. No amount of pictures could've captured her beauty like this. I feel unprepared.

"I should get back to it." Clearing my throat, I take a much-needed step back. "I'm sure you're busy as can be with this grand opening."

"Would you like something? I'm assuming you came here for a pastry." Without the rush to send me on my way, she glances over at the menu. "It can be on the house this time. Just don't tell anyone. Bad for business, you know?"

Her laugh is rich, the same as it sounded when we were younger. God, I want to make her laugh more.

Not wanting to disappoint her, I opt to take a muffin back to my office. She sends me away with a smile that makes me want to stick around. However, that's not a good idea. Not while I'm radiating from shock.

Jake likes to paint me as a stalker, and maybe it's the truth. However, after all this time, I've kept my distance. Now she's within my reach and I'm not so sure I'll be able to keep myself away.

Ignoring the burning in my chest, I take the ride back up to the top silently.

Knowing I won't be able to enjoy the muffin in the way it deserves, I give it to Lucy. The way her face lights up, I can only hope I've given Eloise a future customer. Once my hands are free, I head straight to my office.

What I need is silence and solitude. No interruptions to clear my mind.

Sitting behind my desk, I run a hand down my face. In the back of my mind, I can feel the hunger starting to form. The same hunger I've forced down every time I get lost with scrolling on my phone.

I may not ever want to admit it out loud, but I've never stopped loving this woman. Even though we split on agreed terms, my feelings have never changed. Sure, my heart broke at the time, but I never wanted to give up. I always hoped we'd find each other again.

Jake's brought her back and I see the way he looks at her. There's a similar hunger and I can't blame the guy for it. Though, if he thinks he can have a taste of her like every woman in this city, she's not going to want to be any part of that. He won't be hungry after he's had a taste.

Should I let my jealousy rear its ugly head and claim she's mine? What if Eloise doesn't mind the attention he gives her? Everything has suddenly become far more complicated than it needs to be.

I've barely acknowledged the response of my body. The very thought of her being in the same building has left me swollen and hot. It's fucking shameful.

I don't know why Jake felt the need to bring her here, but he's opened Pandora's box.

Palming my erection, I consider ignoring it. I'm going to have to stop myself from responding this way every time she's near.

With Eloise fresh on my mind, I know it'll take hours to relieve my arousal through pure willpower. I'm not as strong as I should be.

Cursing under my breath, I grab the phone off the desk. Dialing up Lucy, I put the demand out there for no surprise visits. Needing thirty minutes to myself, enough time to get everything out of my system, I barely set the phone back in place before I rush to undo the buckle of my belt.

I won't masturbate to her picture today. Instead, I'll think about her down on the ground floor, running all around as she thrives in her best environment. With the power of imagination alone, I sigh in relief as I wrap my fingers around my cock.

Once my head is clear, maybe I'll make another visit. I can be normal about this. Ask her out for coffee and catch up on the missed years.

If I'm lucky, she'll consider me an option again. We can pick up like we never parted in the first place.

That, or maybe I'll be able to fill in the holes in my heart and move on.

With a groan forming at the back of my throat, I'll save thinking about the future later. For now, I'll think of the present. I'll think about Eloise and her sweet voice and the compliment she'd given me all while I shamelessly release this tension growing in the pit of my stomach.