I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 34

They felt like two high schoolers who hadn't quite figured out how to confess their feelings, not looking at all like lovers who had just spent a passionate night together.

The traffic was manageable, but they had left the hotel so late that by the time they reached the airport and grabbed their boarding passes, time was running out.

As they waited in the security line, Sophie took her suitcase back from Gavin, thanking him once again.

Their hands brushed briefly, and Sophie quickly pulled away.

Gavin let out an awkward chuckle and simply said, "Call me when you land."

Sophie nodded, feeling a flush of embarrassment. She had definitely overreacted just now.

Dragging her luggage forward with the flow of the crowd, she glanced back just before it was her turn. Gavin was still standing exactly where she had left him, waving at her.

"What is going on with you two? Are you filming some tragic period romance? Look at them over there."

Gwen turned around from ahead in the line, lifting her chin to point out a young couple making out heavily not too far from Gavin.

"We're not like that," Sophie clarified.

Gwen opened her mouth to argue, but the TSA agent motioned for her to step forward.

Walking down the aisle of the plane, Gwen's beautiful eyes scanned the cabin. She had spent all that time on her makeup and outfit specifically hoping for an airplane meet-cute.

Even while stuffing her bag into the overhead bin, she didn't stop scanning for potential targets.

"It's going to be a real tragedy if I don't bump into an eligible bachelor in this outfit."

"You'd have to upgrade to first class for that," Sophie teased.

Gwen actually stood up, pulled the curtain aside, and peered into the first-class cabin.

A moment later, she slumped back down into her seat, looking utterly defeated.

"Well, I just saved myself the upgrade fee. Anyone halfway decent is already taken, and the single ones are old and balding. Hard pass."

"Houston has plenty of rich guys. Maybe you'll have better luck when we land."

Sophie laughed, trying to cheer her up. She loved Gwen's absolute lack of filter.

Once the plane leveled out, Gwen cleared her throat, finally voicing the question that had been burning in her mind.

"Last night, when I rode in Mr. Lawrence's car, I heard his fiancée mention they were childhood sweethearts. They've been dating since they were kids. Did you... really not know?"

Sophie felt a brutal, sharp ache pierce her chest. She paused, her voice turning hoarse. "I only found out yesterday."

If she had known he had a childhood sweetheart, she never would have started dating him.

She was absolutely certain that the very first time she visited his apartment, there had been zero feminine products and no trace of another woman. He hadn't even owned a pair of women's slippers. She had walked around barefoot the entire day.

"Sophie," Luke had said, looking at her with absolute seriousness that day. "If you want to get married, I won't stop you. If you meet someone you like one day, you can leave anytime."

Falling from the clouds took less than a second.

Sophie hadn't said a word then. But inside, she had been profoundly disappointed and deeply hurt.

Ever since she was a little girl, she had wanted a real home. A real family with a mom, a dad, and kids—a complete, unbroken unit.

But she couldn't bring herself to leave him. She truly couldn't let go.

In her twenty-something years of life, he was the only man she had ever loved.

She foolishly believed that love and time could change a person. Maybe he just hadn't had enough of the bachelor life yet. Someday, he would want to settle down.

Or maybe, she just wasn't good enough yet.

She took cooking classes, practiced yoga, read the books he read, listened to his favorite music, and learned to appreciate his favorite wines. She worked tirelessly to improve herself, constantly chasing his shadow.

Even just last night, she had harbored a tiny, pathetic shred of hope. When he showed up, she thought he was there to tell her he regretted everything, that he wanted to start over.

But all she got was a simple "I'm sorry."

She had been such an idiot. How arrogant of her to think that someone would actually change for her.