At first, her voice was clipped, cool and distant, the kind that twists in your gut. But after she listened to me explain everything, I felt the ice in her tone begin to melt. Her words softened, her pauses stretched longer, and though things weren’t quite right just yet, there was a flicker of warmth I hadn’t heard in days since our last conversation.
She initially promised to stop by once we’re settled and rested from the flight, but I couldn’t bear the wait. I practically begged for her to come over the moment I get home—no matter how early it might be. I’ve been away from her far too long, and I’m not willing to wait another minute longer.
“What time do we land in Sydney?” Elena murmurs, eyes still closed as she tilts her head slightly in my direction.
“We should land around six in the morning.”
“Are you going to stay up for a bit?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m not really tired yet. Might just put on a show or something.”
Her eyes slowly drift open, and for a moment, we simply stare at each other. She offers a faint smile, brief and tentative, and just like that, I catch a glimpse of the Elena I used to know, before she tore my heart to shreds.
I turn away quickly, fixing my gaze on the window as the plane begins its ascent. Itrises steadily into the night until we break through the veil of clouds and soar above them. Below the world dissolves into a blur of lights and shadows, flickering and fading, as if the world itself is holding its breath.Tokyo really is a beautiful city.
“Thanks for changing our flights so we could all go home together.” Elena’s hushed voice cuts through my daze.
I glance back at her. “Of course. It’s safer for Jake if we all stick together.”
“Yeah, that’s what I mean.” She lets out an awkward laugh. “But you didn’t have to pay for it. It was my fault we had to change plans. At least let me pay you back.”
I shake my head. “No need, Elena. I was happy to do it... Really. Now get some sleep.
I’ll wake you when they start serving our first meal.”
She nods slowly, then snuggles up closer to Jake, who’s now peacefully drifting into sleep.
After selecting a crime show from the little screen in front of me, I settle into my seat, adjusting it until I find a position that’s somewhat tolerable. As the episodes flicker by over the next couple of hours, I barely register a thing, my thoughts many miles away, lost in the one place my heart desperately aches to return to.
It’s just after sunrise in Sydney when the Uber pulls into my driveway. The sky is painted in soft pastels, and the quiet hum of early morning settles around us. Elena helps Jake out of the car while I retrieve our luggage from the boot, just mine and Jake’s. We’d agreed to share a ride since our homes are only a short drive apart. It’s my week with Jake, so it made more sense to stop at mine first and get him settled, while Elena continues the rest of the short trip on her own.
She crouches down, wrapping our son in a tight hug before I gently guide him inside the house. As I turn to see Elena off, she lingers just outside the car, taking her time to leave, despite the Uber driver waiting impatiently for her.
“Umm… Jase?” she says, her voice tinged with a soft, uncertain shyness.
“What is it?”
She takes a few tentative steps towards me, pausing halfway across the front yard, leaving the rest of the distance for me to close.
“I just wanted to say thank you for coming along and making the trip really special for Jake… and for me. It’s been such a long time since he’s had a proper holiday with all of us together.”
“I’d do anything for Jake if it means making him happy. There’s no need to thank me.”
“I know, but… it was nice,” she says softly, a small, almost wistful smile ghosting across her lips. “To feel like a family again.”
I give a silent nod, unsure how to respond to that. When the silence stretches, she clears her throat and asks, “So… what are you up to for the rest of the day?”
“Mila’s coming over to the house to spend some time with us.”
Her smile falters at the mention of Mila, her gaze sharpening just a little. She tries to mask it, but the flicker of jealousy in her eyes is impossible to miss.
“Oh. That’s nice,” she smiles through gritted teeth, “I hope you all enjoy your day, then.”
Her eyes dart over my shoulder for a brief second before she smirks and steps forward, wrapping her arms around me in an embrace. I freeze, taken aback by the sudden gesture. It’s been so long since we’ve hugged like this, and honestly, it feels strange. Off-kilter. Wrong in all the ways it used to feel right.
I offer her an awkward pat on the back, but as I pull away, she catches me off guard once more, reaching up to cup my face and pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
On instinct, I quickly push her away by the shoulders. “What the fuck are you doing, Elena?!” I snap.
