Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 12

Their relationship was a lot like that old watch, really. Out with the old, in with the new. So when Bonnie spotted Lawrence lingering outside her office, she honestly had no idea what he was doing there. Not that she cared.

She walked right past him with a blank expression, treating him like any other stranger on the street. Lawrence, left holding her coldness, just gave a crooked little smile, stubbed out his cigarette, and started following her. He kept his distance—not too close, not too far back.

The subway entrance wasn’t much farther. Bonnie found herself picking up the pace, feeling Lawrence’s presence right behind her. She had zero interest in acknowledging him.

Lawrence let out a sigh. He never should have come to the conference after seeing her name on the project list. He shouldn’t have waited for her outside, and he definitely shouldn’t be trailing behind her now. But he just couldn’t help himself.

Yesterday, Shirley’s words had stuck with him. She’d said what she came to say, then pinned him with a look full of hatred before turning and leaving, not waiting for him to explain.

Back when Lawrence ended things suddenly, he’d left Bonnie with scars. Her mother, strict but fiercely protective, had every right to hate him.

Now Bonnie was almost at the subway entrance. She lifted a hand and pressed it over her left ear, her steps getting even quicker.

Lawrence’s body moved before his mind could catch up. He sped up, and in just a few strides, he reached her. The evening wind picked up, and the faint scent of tobacco—his, mixed with a minty cologne that was definitely different from last night—drifted past her.

It wasn’t a bad smell, exactly, but it still made her stomach twist. Bonnie clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes going glassy as she gagged.

Lawrence panicked, reaching out to steady her, his words stumbling out. “Did you skip dinner? Is your stomach acting up? Do you need to go to the hospital...?”

Bonnie just felt sick, not enough to throw up, but plenty to swat his hand away. Her face was stone cold.

She didn’t bother saying a word as she pushed past him and went straight into the subway.

Lawrence hung back, keeping a few paces between them, but his eyes never left her, shadowing her every move. Bonnie could almost hear his old words in her head—the way he used to say that if she was a kite, then his gaze was the string. If he ever stopped watching her, her kite would fly free.

She used to scold him for that, teasingly tugging his cheeks, asking why he’d ever look away. He’d just laughed, pressed a quick kiss to her face, and promised he’d never stop watching her, not ever. That she was his kite forever.

Now that same string felt broken, but somehow it still kept winding around her, refusing to let go.

She didn’t care to figure it out. All Bonnie wanted right now was to get home, close the door, and sleep in her own corner of the world.

Faster than usual, Bonnie slipped out of the subway, weaving past open restaurants without even glancing at them. She had no plans for dinner—just a single mission to get home.

Standing at her apartment building entrance, she slowed down for the first time, hesitated, and glanced back over her shoulder.