My Old Love

“Jenny?”

The smooth, dreamy voice that I knew all too well had just spoken my name once again. His smiling face flashed in my mind as I turned away from my desk. I was met with those dark beautiful chocolate eyes that I had stared helplessly into when I was younger. 

“T-tom.” I choked out. Everything seemed to come back all at once. All those long-forgotten feelings from my young love. The arguments, tears, that drunken mistake that ruined it all. That night I cried for hours, heartbroken. Then those dazzling butterfly feelings flooded in. The long-night phone calls we shared, the sweet butterfly kisses he left on my lips when we ever parted, that amazing night when he became my first. Those memories I had locked in a box called my heart. Here he is now, the one who smashed it to smithereens. 

“Tom, what are you doing here?!” I whispered yelled. We were in the middle of my office. I could tell that the others were listening in.

“Wow, Jenny! I can’t believe this! How long had it been, ten years? All this time and we’ve been working in the same building! Dang!” He laughed. I stayed frozen to my seat, shocked.

“Wait, what?! What f-floor?” He’s been working here too? Oh my gosh, how have I never noticed??

“Floor 2, I-uh file things.” He said awkwardly. Wow, he was so close all this time and filing? Not like him at all...

“Well, um- anyway I gotta go drop these off to the Big Man, but we should catch up!  When do you get off?”

“6:30.” Wait, am I agreeing to this??

“Perfect! I’ll see you outside the building around 6:35? Sound good, great! See you later!” I watched him go into the boss’s office, back out, and out of the room.

I turned back around and I was in complete shock. Everyone seemed to be giving me annoyed slide glances. I cleared my throat and went back to work, but I couldn’t think straight. I laid my head on my arms. My mind was going crazy and my cheeks were red. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Ah! Stop it, Jennifer, stop! I was subconsciously arguing with myself. Before I knew it, it was 5:30 pm and I hadn’t made my quota yet. Oh frick! Gotta go fast, gotta go fast! I started furiously typing, my fingers blazing over the keyboard. Stupid Tom! Making me feel like a giddy, little schoolgirl again! With his stupid, amazing hair and his beautiful eyes! Ugh, he makes me sick! 

****

“Finally, finished!” I sighed in relief as I turned in my work. Everyone was packed up already and ready to leave for the day. It was 6:30 exactly. “Yes, made it!” I tiny air pumped in celebration. I said goodbye to my coworkers, made my way downstairs and out the front door. I breathed in the cold fall air and sighed. I’m going straight home, feeding Peanut, putting pj’s on, watching my k-dramas, and eating ice cream. I was in my happy daze, not paying any attention to the person in front of me. “Oh no! I’m so sorry!” I had bumped their phone right out of their hands. “Sorry, sorry,” I whispered as I handed them back the phone.

“Don’t worry about it, Jenny! Are you ready to go?” I looked at their face. Holy crap it’s Tom! I forgot we’re supposed to go out tonight! I can’t say no now! Frick!

“Yep, all ready!” I selfed cringed at my fake enthusiasm. Oh jeez, we’re really doing this.

We started walking north, towards the center of town. An awkward silence washed over us. He started touching his lips, a thing he did when he was nervous. “You still do that?” I chuckled, pointing at the fingers that were rubbing his lips. He chuckled back, tucking his hand back in his pocket. 

“Haha, yeah. Guess old habits die hard!” We shared a small laugh and when we became silent again, it was comfortable. We reached the center of town and decided to stop at a restaurant. We walked into an Italian place and took a table near the window. 

“Beautiful tonight, isn’t it?” I said, gazing out the window. I could feel his eyes on me as he spoke.

“It sure is.”

****

We laughed and talked about really anything while seated. We were very loud but didn’t care. We were just having fun. We eventually were told to leave before we even got our dinner. You could still hear us giggling on our way out. We walked for a bit more before we passed a convenience store. “Ice cream?” Tom asked. I eagerly nodded my head. He smiled and went in. Coming out, no more than two minutes later, with a mint chocolate chip and vanilla ice cream cone. 

“You remembered my favorite ice cream flavor?” I questioned, taking the artificially green cone from his hands.

“Well, of course! I remember everything about you.” He answered, blushing. I smiled at the ground. He’s truly a sweet guy… We walked on some more, finishing our ice cream and giggling like little kids,. We made our way down to the beach. Staring out into the sea, I got the sudden urge to go into the water. I stripped off my coat, shoes, and socks. 

“What are you doing? Are you crazy?!” Tom said laughing as I waded into the freezing water. 

“Yep, I sure am. Care to join me?” I half-heartedly asked. He sighed and started to take his shoes and coat off too. He jumped in and swam to were I was. We laughed and laughed. Suddenly, I was in his arms, hugging him tightly. He cleared his throat. 

“What are you doing?” He asked. I could tell he was smiling. 

“You’re warm.” This was my excuse as I hugged him more. We released each other and stared into each other’s eyes. 

“Jenny,” He spoke softly, tucking a strand of hair behind my hair,” you’re beautiful.” 

“Hmm,” I hummed, placing his hand on my cheek,” no, you’re more beautiful.”

“Not possible!” He said, lifting me. I laughed and smiled down at him. 

“I really want to kiss you.” He whispered.

“Then do it.” I teased. We locked lips and I realized how much I missed this, us. We kissed, not long enough, before we parted for air.

“Jenny, I’m so sorry about that night. I was drunk and being stupid-” I cut him off. 

“Thomas, shut up. Yes, you were fricken stupid that night, but so was I. I shouldn’t have dragged you to that party. I’m the one who should be sorry.” I looked sadly into his eyes and he smiled that perfect smile.

“Jennifer Kylie Summers, I forgive you.”

“Thomas Anton Jones, I forgive you.” A huge weight had been lifted from both our shoulders. We laughed and kissed again. 

“Hey, Tom?”

“Yes?” 

“Can we please get out of the water now? I think my legs are gonna freeze off.” We ran through the water and collapsed back on the sand. I cuddled up to him and we stared into the starry, dark sky. 

“Hey, Tom?”

“What is it now Jen?” Tom joked.

“I love you.”