Novels by Teme Tom

Lauren A week passed faster than I expected it to. Between remote meetings, endless emails, and a body that seemed to be constantly renegotiating its relationship with food, I barely noticed the days stacking on top of each other. I was tired in a way that sleep didn’t quite fix—but it was a productive tired. The kind that came from doing something, even if I was still figuring out what that something was. That morning, my phone buzzed while I was on a call. Ethan: Found your yoga place. We're leaving in the next hour. Me: Aye, aye captain. By the time my meeting ended, there was a knock at my door. I opened it to find Ethan grinning far too proudly, holding two large boxes. “No,” I said instantly. “Yes,” he replied. “Delivery just came. For you.” “I didn't order anything.” I said. “Well I did. And it's yours.” I scrunched my face. “See….. I noticed you didn't go shopping for yoga so I decided to shop for you,” he said plainly like he was telling me about the we

Lauren POVNew Zealand mornings were quieter than I was used to.Not empty—just calm. The kind of calm that didn’t demand anything from you the moment you opened your eyes. I liked that about this place. It let me breathe before the world remembered I existed.By nine a.m., I was already dressed and seated at the small dining table, my laptop open, a cup of ginger tea cooling beside it. Kate appeared on my screen right on time, her familiar sharp bob and sharper expression somehow comforting despite the distance.“You look… rested,” she said slowly, eyes narrowing as if suspicious of the fact.“I slept eight hours,” I replied. “Voluntarily.”Kate gasped. “Who are you and what have you done with Lauren Pope?”I laughed, the sound surprising even me. “How’s the brand?”She straightened, all business now, and launched into updates—new suppliers, a delayed shipment, a collaboration opportunity she’d put on hold until I was ready. I listened, chimed in when needed, grateful all over again

Lauren pov I woke up feeling wrong. Not the usual groggy, jet-lagged tired. This was deeper. Nausea twisted my stomach, sharp and sudden, followed by a dull ache low in my abdomen that made me freeze in place. My hand moved to my stomach instinctively, panic rushing in before logic could catch up. Three weeks wasn’t far along. Anything could happen. I sat up slowly, breathing through the discomfort, then forced myself out of bed. As I stood up, the pain became sharper. Unable to bear it, I quickly dressed in the simplest thing I could find, brushed my teeth, grabbed my bag, and left the apartment without bothering to eat. The walk to the entrance of my apartment felt endless, my thoughts spiraling the entire way. I quickly hailed a cab and told him to take me to the closest hospital. During the drive I couldn't stop breathing through my mouth, it was the only way that didn't seem to intensify the pain. By the time he stopped at the hospital, I was already crying. Please be o

Andre PoV I kept rereading the note like it might change if I stared at it long enough. Lauren’s goodbye sat open on my computer screen, the words burned into me now, memorized against my will. Every line felt calm. Too calm. That was the part that terrified me the most. There was no anger in it. No accusations. Just clarity. Finality. I am not running away, I'm simply leaving for my peace of mind. Please don't bother looking for me. Don't bother to look for you? How do you leave the person you’re married to because of something that's most likely untrue without even giving them the chance to fight? And then ask that I don't look for you? Ridiculous. I hadn’t been to the office in days. I didn’t shave. I did bathe. Didn’t answer calls. I barely slept. I barely ate. The curtains stayed drawn, the room dark, as if I kept the light out long enough, this wouldn’t be real. Like Lauren might walk back in, drop her bag by the door, and tell me this was all some cruel misu

Lauren pov Starting over sounds brave in theory. In reality, it feels like learning how to breathe again—slowly, deliberately, painfully aware of every inhale. New Zealand welcomed me with calm skies and streets that didn’t know my past. I chose Auckland, not because it was loud or impressive, but because it felt alive without being overwhelming. A city where ambition existed quietly, where I could disappear and still grow. For two days, I walked through different houses and apartments with a real estate agent named Maeve, nodding politely while my mind wandered. Too big. Too small. Too cold. Too expensive. Too stuffy. Each place felt like someone else’s life waiting to be lived. But I was positive I was going to get the right one. Nights were harder. The city quieted early, and silence had a way of pulling memories to the surface. I lay in bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceilings, thinking of Dre, his voice, his presence, his touch, the man I loved despite

Andre POV I woke up expecting silence. The kind that had become normal lately, the distance Lauren wore like armor, the way she moved through the house avoiding me and every other resident. I reached across the bed out of habit and felt nothing but cool sheets. I sighed deeply. I was getting sick of not being around her. I miss her so much. She had lost herself in all of this and it was entirely my fault. She had lost her spark, her energy, and her happiness and I was all to blame. The hate I had grown towards myself was gruesome. She’s been leaving home super early since the beginning of this week, before dawn. Quiet footsteps. Doors that closed without sound. She thought I didn't know or hear her but I did. I was always tempted to follow her but I knew she just wanted her space and that's all I could afford to give her at this time so I gave it generously. I got out of bed, headed to the bathroom to shower, get dressed, and then stepped into the hallway just as Gr