Page 52 of Wild Heart

“This is incredible.”

Coming back to Landing was the best decision of my life.

It had only been just over a week since I returned, and barring the issue of the tension between Tate and me and the near immediate breakdown I had the next morning when Ivy brought me breakfast, I already felt so much better.

This was precisely where I was meant to be. I was silently kicking myself for ever thinking I could thrive anywhere else.

Of course, I still had a long way to go before I’d feel like I was where I wanted to be, but at least I was on the right track.

After I’d given myself the day after Tate’s birthday to grieve the loss of the life I’d always dreamed I’d have and the bond of our friendship that he and I had lost, I did as I’d promised Ivy I was going to do.

And while I was mostly excited about getting myself out there and taking the steps to move on, not everything had been as easy as it might have seemed.

Because I was staying in a suite at The Westwood Hotel, and I knew there was a very real possibility that Tate and I might see one another if we happened to be in some shared public space on the campus. While it was unlikely, considering he worked intheir office building that wasn’t in the hotel, there was still a chance that he could stroll through the front doors and into the lobby as I was leaving.

So, for the first three days, I was on edge every time I stepped out of my suite. I was aware I wouldn’t be able to avoid Tate forever, but after the way things had gone down between us at his birthday celebration, I just hadn’t quite prepared myself for that next interaction. I needed time to get my defenses up.

After those first three days, I stopped thinking about it so much. I didn’t worry that I might accidentally run into him. In fact, I felt confident I’d be able to handle it with ease.

Somewhere over the course of those three days, something changed for me. Whether it was that I was actively going out to check out apartments or something else, I wasn’t quite sure. What I did know was that I’d gone from feeling heartbroken over the situation with Tate to feeling vindicated.

Initially, I’d felt awful about the way I’d gone about things and cut him out. It was wrong, and after what we’d had together, maybe I owed it to him to at least tell him the truth about my plan not to return. At the very least, I could have returned his calls.

So, the night I returned, I was remorseful and prepared to ask for his forgiveness for how I’d handled everything. I was even understanding of the reaction he’d given me that night. I came back, without warning, and intruded on what should have been a celebratory evening for him.

But after I had some time to think on it—and I had plenty of time over the last week or so—I no longer felt bad. I believed my decision to leave Landing, despite it not working out for me in the end, was done for the right reason.

Tate didn’t care about me the way I cared about him. Sure, he claimed he’d felt an attraction to me for a long time, but when it all boiled down, I had been in love when he only felt lust.

Coming to that realization was like having a light switched on inside me. I had been right to do what I needed to do to protect myself after the wedding. And now, I didn’t worry about how things might go if we happened to run into one another.

I’d apologized. He’d chosen not to listen to what I had to say, nor did he accept it. His inaction since his birthday, his unwillingness to even reach out to apologize for speaking to me like he had, was just what I’d needed to be set free.

So, for now, I was taking just one more step toward reconnecting my life to this town and the people who did love me. Today, that meant I intended to take the morning to kill two birds, which started with finally making my first trip to see Jules and her new bakery.

I’d just arrived in the area between the food court and the end of the chocolate-making tour ride to see the stunning bakery, where Jules now spent her days. The place was impressive, and I couldn’t hold back telling her.

“Thank you. Do you really like it?” she asked.

“Are you kidding me? I love it.” My eyes scanned the entire space—glass cases housing rows upon rows of sweet treats. Everything was there, from cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls to freshly baked breads, bagels, and biscuits. It all looked appetizing; I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to sample everything.

“Cooper really did a fantastic job with this place. I couldn’t be happier with it.”

She was beaming. I couldn’t say I didn’t understand, either. Like me, Jules seemed to always know what she’d wanted to do with her life. Sure, she could cook, but baking was her life the way dancing had been mine.

“It’s great. And I love the name.”

Jules let out a laugh. “Yeah, I had gone through a bunch of different names, and The Mixing Bowl was the one that stuck.”

This was it.

This right here was just one of the things that solidified that I’d made the right decision to come back, regardless of Tate. I would have regretted not seeing this. Jules and I were nearly as close as Ivy and I were. She was just like a sister to me, and being able to see her realize her dream meant the world to me. “I’m so proud of you, Jules.”

“Thanks, Ava. That means a lot to me. So, do you want something heartier this morning? I’ve got a ton of bagels or croissants. Or, if you just want a sweet treat, there’re a lot of options between the cupcakes and cookies.”

“Oh, man. I’m so glad I didn’t eat yet today, because I want some of everything. How about something with a bit of substance now and something indulgent for later?”

She grinned. “Smart woman. Do you have something specific you want to try, or do you want me to choose?”