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127

Author: J.O
last update publish date: 2026-08-05 17:28:23
The walk from the recovery station to the newly completed indoor pool took only a few minutes, but Olivia somehow managed to fill every second with conversation.

“I still can’t believe they finished this place ahead of schedule,” she said, looking around at the freshly painted walls and polished glass panels. “Last week there were still construction workers everywhere.”

“I’ll admit,” I said with a smile, “it does look impressive.”

“It should. I heard Brandon insisted on bringing the opening f
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  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   128

    THALIA The voices around me faded into nothing.I was still holding my clipboard, but my fingers had tightened around it so much that the edges dug into my palm without me noticing. He’d jumped into the pool.For reasons I couldn’t quite explain, that simple truth settled somewhere deep inside me.I handed the clipboard to Olivia without taking my eyes off him.“Can you hold this for me?”She searched my face for a moment before glancing toward Brandon. Understanding flickered in her expression almost immediately.“Of course.”Taking a steadying breath, I crossed the tiled floor, weaving between players who were still laughing about the morning’s demonstration. By the time I stopped beside the small group of executives, Brandon looked up.Surprise flashed briefly across his face.“Thalia?”The conversation around him came to an immediate halt.I offered the others an apologetic smile before looking back at Brandon.“Can we talk for a sec?”Coach George glanced between us before giv

  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   127

    The walk from the recovery station to the newly completed indoor pool took only a few minutes, but Olivia somehow managed to fill every second with conversation. “I still can’t believe they finished this place ahead of schedule,” she said, looking around at the freshly painted walls and polished glass panels. “Last week there were still construction workers everywhere.” “I’ll admit,” I said with a smile, “it does look impressive.” “It should. I heard Brandon insisted on bringing the opening forward so the team could start using it before the next training phase.” I nodded absently, though my thoughts had already drifted somewhere else. The silence that settled between us lasted only a moment before I glanced sideways at her. “Can I ask you something?” “You just did.” I laughed. “You know what I mean.” She smiled. “Go on.” I hesitated, unsure why the question had stayed with me all night. “When I woke up yesterday… I asked if Brandon had been there.” “I remember.” “You sa

  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   126

    THALIA By the following morning, the cough had settled into little more than an occasional irritation at the back of my throat, surfacing only when I laughed or spoke for too long, but that hadn’t stopped Olivia from eyeing me as though I might collapse at any moment.“I’m telling you now,” she said the instant I walked into the recovery station, “if you so much as sneeze, I’m sending you straight back to the lodge.”I set my bag on the table and laughed, earning myself another small cough.“There. You see?” She pointed at me triumphantly. “That doesn’t sound like someone who’s completely recovered.”“It sounds like someone who laughed at you.”“It sounds like someone who should be in bed.”“I was in bed. All night.”Olivia narrowed her eyes, clearly debating whether she believed me, before finally letting out an exaggerated sigh.“I suppose I’ll allow you to work.”“How generous of you.”“I know.”The morning quickly settled into its usual rhythm. Players wandered in after practice

  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   125

    THALIAI woke up feeling a little soreness from all the coughing I did when I got back to my cabin.It wasn’t painful, just an annoying tickle at the back of my throat that refused to disappear no matter how much water I drank.I closed my eyes for a brief moment, willing the memories of yesterday away before climbing out of bed. The camp doctor had insisted I take the morning off if I still felt unwell, but apart from the occasional cough, I felt perfectly fine.Besides, I wasn’t about to let everyone start treating me like I was made of glass.By the time I arrived at the recovery station, the morning practice was already underway.The familiar sounds of skates gliding across the ice drifted through the open doors, mixing with Coach George’s booming voice as he barked instructions at the players.Unfortunately, the team lost focus the minute I entered.“There she is.”Olivia looked up the moment I stepped inside before abandoning the files she’d been organizing.“How are you feelin

  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   124

    BRANDONThe automatic doors slid shut behind me with a soft hiss, muffling the laughter drifting from inside the recovery station.I kept walking.The afternoon breeze brushed against my face, but it did nothing to cool the heaviness pressing against my chest. By the time I reached the quiet path leading toward the guest lodges, Thalia’s words were still echoing in my head.Who I give my number to is none of your business, Brandon.She was right.As much as it hurt to admit it, she was absolutely right.I let out a slow breath and rubbed the back of my neck.What the hell had I been thinking?I’d promised myself I wouldn’t keep making the same mistake. Every time I tried to protect her, it came across as control. Maybe this was exactly what I deserved.I stopped walking and looked back toward the recovery station.From where I stood, I couldn’t see inside, but I knew she was there. I could almost picture Caleb standing beside her bed, making her laugh the way he seemed to make everyo

  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   123

    THALIAThe first thing I saw was Brandon.We were children again, standing beside the narrow river that ran behind our neighborhood while our parents chatted beneath a nearby tree, completely unaware that I had wandered much closer to the bank than I should have. I remembered laughing at something Brandon had said, more interested in the tiny fish darting beneath the surface than the warning he kept repeating.“Thalia,” he called, exasperation creeping into his voice. “Come back. You’re too close.”I glanced over my shoulder with a grin.“I’m just looking.”“You’ve been ‘just looking’ for five minutes.”“I’ll be fine.”“You always say that.”“And I’m always right.”To prove my point, I took another step.The muddy ground beneath my foot gave way without warning and my smile vanished.One second I was standing safely on the riverbank. The next, icy water swallowed me whole.Panic consumed me almost instantly. I kicked desperately, but the current was stronger than I was, dragging me f

  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   FIFTY FIVE

    THALIABy the time I got to work the next morning, I was still irritated from Brandon showing up at my apartment the night before like he had lost every remaining ounce of sense he possessed.The nerve of that man still annoyed me.I walked into the lab with my coffee in one hand and my laptop bag

  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   FIFTY

    THALIAI stood just behind the stage entrance, my hands resting lightly against each other as I adjusted my grip, then released it again when I realized I was doing too much.“You’re good,” the event coordinator said quietly as she passed me. “It’s almost your turn.”I nodded once without respondin

  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   THIRTY FOUR

    THALIABrandon gave a short scoff beside me, the sound low and dry, as though my anger was something he found mildly inconvenient rather than justified, and it made my frustration spike all over again.“What exactly are you talking about?” he asked, leaning back into the leather seat as if we were

  • I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON   SIX

    THALIAAcross the city, my new apartment still smelled faintly of fresh paint.Freedom had a strange scent.I stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the half-opened boxes scattered everywhere. The place wasn’t nearly as large as the Langford estate, but it felt lighter somehow. The sile

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