Return To The Scene Of Your Heartache

Day 169 of The Andie Chronicles

The only flight back to Melbourne with available seats was at nine in the morning. It was a cruel twist of fate but one I had to endure. 

I ran away from them; I shouldn't have the luxury of perfect timing on the way home. 

Cooper drove me to the airport; he had already been to the gym before I had my morning coffee. 

I should have gone with him; I should have tried to spend every last minute with him. 

There was this part of me that didn't want to make a big deal over leaving him. We were in a new relationship, if you could call it a relationship. We had just met; I couldn't get carried away with the moment.

Pulling up at the arrivals, Cooper swiftly jumped out of his car, a blue pickup truck with GCWW printed across the side. He retrieved my bag from the cab and put it on the sidewalk, patting the handle as the wheels landed. 

He caught me spying on the sweet interaction. "It's a good luck thing. I've lost way too many bags in my time, my favourite ring gear, you name it." 

And as he finished explaining himself, I threw my arms around his shoulders, despite our uneven height, and held him as tight as my body would allow me. 

"I don't want to let go of you." 

Cooper untangled his arms from mine and lifted me up in the air and back into his chest. "We will be back together soon, I promise." 

And he kissed me. The world stopped as our lips met. Time didn't exist, my problems evaporated, and everything was right with the world.

But as I left his side and continued into the airport alone, I had to wonder. Was this a holiday romance? Was that a real goodbye masked by the idea it was a temporary goodbye? Did he say what we both needed to hear to make a final goodbye bearable? 

Landing in Melbourne, I was hit with two blasts; the freezing cold temperatures, sheets of rain and a depressing skyline. And the other was confronting reality. I was only forty-five minutes from home, forty-five minutes from returning to my life, and forty-five minutes to think of what I would say to my friends when we finally came face to face. 

I knew they would be all at work now, but eventually, James would come. 

And when six o'clock came by, he did precisely that. As soon as the key penetrated the door, my heart tried to escape my chest. I stood in the kitchen, but I regretted not being prone on the couch. James walked in and immediately called my name. The lights on in the house were a dead giveaway. 

"Hey, I'm here," I quivered from the safety of behind the kitchen island. James threw everything in his possession down to the floor and marched over to me.

I felt what was coming; he wasn't angry, he wasn't confused, he didn't hate me as I suspected. Instead, as his arms wrapped around me, the same way I wrapped mine around Cooper, and I could feel he loved me. 

"Babe, babe, babe, you're here! You're here! Fuck I missed you."

I never thought James would say he missed me. I thought he was trying to get rid of me. 

"I missed you too." 

And I didn't lie either. I did miss James, and now we were embracing like it was before everything broke down, and I was confronted with the third blast of the day. I really did miss him more than ever. 

"Tell me everything," he said. 

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You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.

By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.

Or the day after that.

Or the day after that, too. 

Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

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DAY 1: Tales Of People Forgetting Your Birthday And Lovers Who Don't Materialise

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Just a moment! 1 Lovelock Drive is a reader-supported publication (I can’t do this without you!). If you love what you read, and want to receive the next instalment and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber!

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A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?

Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx