chapter 3
1090 Words
Jack’s POV
The snowstorm hit fast and hard, turning the streets of Mayfield into a frozen maze. The biting wind stung my face, and the sharp crunch of snow beneath my boots was the only sound in the otherwise deserted square.
I needed to clear my head.
Rose Bennett.
Her name churned in my mind like poison, the sight of her earlier digging up emotions I’d worked years to bury. Anger, betrayal, heartbreak—all of it boiled beneath the surface, threatening to spill over.
Five years. Five damn years since she humiliated me, and yet the wounds still felt fresh. I’d told myself I’d moved on, that I didn’t care anymore. But seeing her tonight—her wide eyes full of guilt—had reignited the storm inside me.
I gritted my teeth, shoving my hands deeper into my pockets as I rounded the corner. Snow whipped against my face, the icy wind seeping through the seams of my coat. The storm was getting worse, but I didn’t care.
---
The diner’s warm glow stood out against the swirling white, a beacon of familiarity in the frozen chaos. I stepped inside, shaking off the snow and glancing around. A handful of people were scattered in booths, their conversations muted and their faces half-lit by the flickering neon sign in the window.
The waitress behind the counter offered a tired smile. “Coffee?”
“Black,” I said, my voice gruff.
I slid into a corner booth, leaning back against the worn vinyl seat as I rubbed my hands together. The warmth of the diner seeped into my skin, but it did little to thaw the icy knot in my chest.
Rose was back. That much I couldn’t avoid. But why?
I couldn’t shake the feeling that her presence wasn’t a coincidence. The way she’d looked at me—like she wanted to say something but couldn’t—only fueled my suspicion. What was she hiding?
---
The bell over the door jingled, and instinctively, I glanced up. My body tensed, half-expecting to see Rose standing there, her scarf pulled tight against the cold.
But it wasn’t her.
A man stepped inside, brushing snow off his shoulders. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and impeccably dressed in a dark coat and leather gloves. His hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place despite the storm outside.
It took me a moment to recognize him.
Angelo DeLuca.
The sight of him sent a sharp jolt through my chest, followed quickly by a surge of anger. Angelo had been the golden boy of Mayfield back in high school—the son of the wealthiest family in town, with a smug smile and a knack for getting what he wanted.
Including Rose.
My jaw clenched as he scanned the diner, his eyes landing on me. His lips curled into a slow, smug smile, and he strode toward my booth like he owned the place.
---
“Well, well,” Angelo drawled, sliding into the seat across from me uninvited. “Look who’s back in town.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped, my tone sharp.
Angelo leaned back, draping one arm over the booth as he smirked. “Relax, Carter. I’m just here for the charity match. Figured I’d stop by and say hello to an old friend.”
“We’re not friends,” I shot back, my fists tightening under the table.
“True,” he said with a chuckle, taking off his gloves and setting them on the table. “But we go way back, don’t we? It’d be rude not to catch up.”
I stared at him, my anger simmering beneath the surface. Angelo hadn’t changed a bit. He was still the same arrogant, manipulative bastard who’d kissed Rose that night, turning my world upside down.
“Cut the crap,” I said, my voice low. “What do you want?”
Angelo shrugged, his smirk never faltering. “I heard you were back in town, and I couldn’t resist. You’ve made quite the name for yourself, haven’t you? Captain of Real Madrid, two-time Ballon d’Or winner…” He leaned forward slightly, his tone turning mocking. “Quite a leap for a small-town kid, huh?”
I didn’t take the bait. “If you’re here to gloat, save it. I don’t have time for this.”
Angelo laughed, the sound grating against my nerves. “You always were so serious, Carter. Lighten up. Life’s too short to hold grudges.”
“Funny coming from you,” I said coldly.
His smirk widened. “Touché.”
---
The silence between us was heavy, charged with unspoken tension. Angelo took a sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Look,” he said finally, setting his cup down. “I’m not here to start trouble. I just thought you should know…” He paused, his smirk turning sharper. “Rose? She’s not as innocent as she looks.”
My chest tightened. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Angelo shrugged casually, his tone light. “Just a friendly warning. People like her? They always have an angle. Trust me, I know.”
My fists clenched under the table, my pulse pounding in my ears. “If you’re trying to stir s**t up, it’s not going to work.”
“Stir s**t up?” Angelo laughed, the sound low and taunting. “Come on, Carter. I’m just saying—be careful who you trust. People aren’t always who they seem.”
---
The bell jingled again as the door swung open, and Angelo glanced over his shoulder. A slow smile spread across his face.
“Well,” he said, standing and pulling on his gloves. “I’ll leave you to it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He tossed a few bills onto the table and gave me a mock salute before heading for the door.
“See you around,” he called over his shoulder, his tone light but his eyes glinting with something darker.
I watched him leave, my chest coiled with unease. Angelo’s arrival wasn’t a coincidence—I was sure of it. Whatever he was up to, it wasn’t good.
---
As I reached for my coffee, I noticed something on the table—a folded piece of paper that hadn’t been there before.
Frowning, I picked it up and unfolded it.
Scrawled in Angelo’s neat handwriting were three words: “Ask her why.”
- Writer
