She watched him disappear, then turned her gaze back to the tea. Today. She'd talk to Jack today.
The opportunity came sooner than expected.
They crossed paths in the school parking lot after drop-off, both hesitating slightly as if unsure who should speak first. Jack glanced at her, his eyes meeting hers just briefly before shifting away. His jaw tightened, and his shoulders tensed, like he was trying to brace himself. Claire caught the hesitation in his posture, the way his fingers curled slightly at his sides. It was a flicker—subtle but familiar. The kind that said he was caught between speaking and retreating and hadn’t yet decided which way to lean. Claire offered a tentative smile, her voice light but threaded with meaning. "Looks like we keep running into each other in parking lots—maybe the universe is nudging us to stop avoiding things."
Jack gave a soft laugh. "Yeah. Seems like fate has a thing for awkward school-run reunions."
"Maybe it's trying to tell us something," she replied.
"Like we need to talk?" he asked.
She nodded. "Walk with me?"
He agreed, and they set off along the sidewalk bordering the school grounds, the breeze lifting her hair and carrying the faint scent of sea salt and cut grass.
"It was good seeing you with Chloe and Gabe at the meeting yesterday," she offered.
"Yeah," Jack said. "They seem to be getting along really well."
Claire tucked her hands into her jacket pockets. "They are. It's sweet."
A beat passed.
"You okay?" she asked gently.
Jack exhaled, his eyes fixed ahead. "I don’t know. I guess I’ve been in my head a lot."
Claire nodded, choosing her words carefully. "I've noticed you've been... a little quieter lately. And that's okay. I just want to understand."
He stopped walking, hands shoved into his jeans pockets. "It's not you. I mean, it is. But not in a bad way."
She tilted her head. "That’s a pretty complicated start."
He chuckled weakly. "Yeah. That tracks."
They stood in silence for a moment, the sounds of traffic and children playing in the distance creating a quiet hum around them.
"When Derek showed up," Claire said softly, "I felt myself lock up. Not because I still care about him. But because it reminded me of how messy things used to be. And how hard it is to trust someone new with that mess."
Jack looked at her then, really looked—his brow furrowed, lips parting slightly as if to speak, then closing again. His gaze held hers for a breath longer, something raw and unguarded flickering behind his eyes. He shifted slightly, as if unsure whether to close the distance between them or keep the safety of space. Claire’s breath caught at the vulnerability in his expression, her hand tightening briefly around the strap of her purse.
"I’ve been meaning to talk to you," he finally murmured, voice low. His eyes searched hers, lingering with a mix of hesitation and recognition, the kind of look that said he was trying to find the right words and didn’t want to look away until he did. "I get that."
"I think we both carry some ghosts around," she continued. "And I think that's okay, as long as we don't let them decide what comes next."
He shifted his weight, scuffing the toe of his shoe against the pavement. "I’m scared. Not of you. But of wanting more and screwing it up."
Claire took a step closer, noting the way Jack’s jaw tightened slightly, like he was bracing for impact, but he didn’t pull away. "You're not alone in that. But I don't need you to be perfect, Jack. I just need you to keep showing up."
He gave a slow nod, like her words were seeping in past the noise in his mind. "That feels doable."
They walked a bit more in silence, this time companionable. Claire glanced toward the marina, the wind ruffling her hair as she spoke. Her shoulders had softened, and the tightness that had lingered in her chest seemed to ebb with every step. The world felt quieter beside him. "You know, this is nice. Just... being here."
Jack nodded. "It is. I forgot how quiet it could be, in a good way."
She smiled softly. "It's easier to talk when you're not staring down a thousand to-dos."
"Or ghosts," he added with a wry smile.
