Unspoken Desire JenLisa AU

Chapter 14

I heard a knock at the door and paused, my heart fluttering in a way that it hadn't in days. I wasn't expecting anyone, but the thought of Lisa crossed my mind before I could stop it. Shaking my head, I told myself not to get my hopes up. But when I opened the door, there she was.

Lisa stood there, holding a bouquet of sunflowers and lilies in one hand and a bag of groceries in the other. Her smile was shy, almost hesitant, but her eyes gleamed with a warmth that melted me instantly.

"Hi," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of something unspoken.

"Lisa..." I breathed, unable to keep the surprise-and delight-out of my voice. My eyes darted to the flowers and then to the groceries. "What's all this?"

She shrugged, her lips quirking up into a playful smile. "An apology for making you wait so long to see me. And... lunch. If you'll let me cook for you."

My chest tightened at her words. Lisa had always had this way of being completely disarming without even trying. I stepped aside, opening the door wider. "Come in."

As soon as she stepped inside, I couldn't stop myself from leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. She froze for just a second, then melted into it, her free hand brushing against my cheek. The flowers crinkled slightly between us, and we both pulled back, laughing.

"Careful," she teased, holding up the bouquet. "These are for you."

I took them from her, my fingers brushing hers, and my heart gave a little leap. "They're beautiful. Thank you." I set them down carefully on the counter, then turned back to her. "But what's all this about cooking? Since when do you cook?"

Lisa chuckled, setting the grocery bag on the kitchen island and beginning to unpack. "You taught me the basics, remember? And... well, I kept learning. I figured it was something I needed to get better at."

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms as I leaned against the counter. "Why? You've always said you didn't care about cooking."

Her hands stilled for a moment before she glanced at me with an expression so vulnerable it made my chest ache. "Because I wanted to cook for you. I thought... maybe you left before because I couldn't give you the kind of life you wanted. Like, I couldn't even make you a decent meal."

The guilt hit me like a freight train. I straightened, walking over to her, and took her hands in mine. "Lisa, no." My voice wavered, but I forced myself to continue. "There was nothing wrong with you. You were-are-everything. I adored you, genuinely. That was my fault. I was scared. Scared of how deeply I felt for you and how much you changed everything I thought I knew about myself."

She blinked, her lips parting slightly. "Changed you? How?"

"I thought I had life figured out," I admitted, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. "I thought I knew how to live alone, how to protect myself from getting hurt. Then you came along, and you made me see something I didn't know I wanted-a future with someone. But it scared me. Marriage... commitment... it felt so overwhelming. And instead of talking to you, I ran. That's on me."

Lisa's face softened, but there was a lingering hurt in her eyes that made my heart clench. "Do you know how much that hurt me, Jennie?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "You left without a word, without a goodbye-just a note. I kept wondering what I did wrong, what I could've done differently. I was... I was so broken after you left."

Tears spilled down my cheeks now, and I squeezed her hands tightly. "I'm sorry, Lisa. I was a coward, and I'll regret that forever. But I promise you, I'm not that person anymore. I know what I want now, and it's you. Only you."