I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 38

Sophie pulled the blanket tightly around herself. She was completely exhausted, her limbs feeling like lead.

Gavin had suggested going to the hot springs, but she had declined.

She was terrified it would drag up the memory of soaking in the hot springs with Luke in St. Moritz.

The setup there had been exactly what Gwen envisioned—soaking in steaming water while watching the snow fall outside. The scenery was breathtaking, the atmosphere incredibly romantic, and Luke had looked devastatingly handsome. It had given her the extravagant fantasy of wanting to visit St. Moritz with him every single winter.

When she shared that lavish thought with Luke back then, he had simply looked at her, his lips pressed tightly together, maintaining his usual impenetrable silence.

This morning, while watching the sunrise on the snowy peak, Gavin had also asked her, "Could we come back here every winter to watch the sunrise?"

She had reacted with the exact same stony silence Luke once gave her. She pressed her lips together tightly, offering neither a yes nor a no. She hadn't even dared to look Gavin in the eye.

"What exactly are you two right now? Friends? Dating? Something in between?"

Since her divorce, Gwen had become fiercely unapologetic about relationships. If her ex-husband couldn't keep it in his pants before the wedding, then she was going to embrace her own freedom too. Freed from the chains of marriage, she had reclaimed both her physical autonomy and her spirit.

If she saw someone she liked at a bar, she wasn't above taking them home for the night and saying goodbye at dawn.

Watching Sophie and Gavin tiptoe around each other was practically driving her crazy.

"You only have a few good years of youth left! Why aren't you living it up while you can? If you like him, just go for it."

Sophie just smiled tiredly, offering no response. She was completely drained and just wanted to sleep.

Gavin's research project in the area wouldn't wrap up for another month. Once again, it was him dropping Sophie and Gwen off at the airport.

Gwen went to get their boarding passes, leaving Sophie and Gavin to watch the luggage.

Sophie had just hung up the phone with her mother when she heard Gavin call her name hesitantly from behind.

She turned around. He had closed the distance between them and was looking down at her.

"I'm going to come visit you over New Year's. Is that okay?"

Sophie forced a bright, natural smile. "Sure. I still owe you a local dinner. I can even be your free tour guide for three days."

Gavin took a step forward, closing the space between them to an intimate distance. She instinctively tried to step back, but Gavin caught her hand. With a gentle tug, she stumbled softly against his chest.

"We haven't even said goodbye yet, and I already miss you."

The sudden confession caught Sophie completely off guard. She had no idea how to respond.

Watching from a distance, Gwen stopped in her tracks and flashed Gavin an enthusiastic thumbs-up. *The boy learns fast.*

Walking out of their home airport, Sophie and Gwen hopped on the airport shuttle bus.

Watching the familiar city streets roll by, Sophie felt a sudden sense of homecoming. She had once been so desperate to escape this city, but now, it was the only place that truly felt like home.

On the bus, Sophie answered a call from her mother.

Her voice instantly brightened. "I'm on the bus. I'll be home in about half an hour."

"Wherever your mom is, that's home. I'm really jealous of you, Sophie. You still have a mom. Aside from a deadbeat dad who only reaches out when he needs cash, I've got no family left."

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