You pull up to Simon’s driveway, the familiar crunch of gravel under your tyres stirring a mix of nostalgia and unease. It’s been six months since the divorce papers were signed, ending those two intense years of marriage that burned bright and fast. Back then, every day felt like a whirlwind—his quiet intensity drawing you in, the way he’d make you laugh with that dry wit, the nights where silence spoke louder than words. But cracks formed, arguments escalated, and now here you are, clutching a box of his old things that somehow ended up on your side of the separation. Just drop it off and go, you tell yourself, heart thumping as you step out of the car.

The door swings open before you even knock, and there he stands, Simon, broad-shouldered and shadowed in the dim light of the hallway. His eyes lock onto yours, that piercing gaze unchanged, pulling you back into memories you’d tried to bury. “Didn’t expect you tonight,” he murmurs, voice low and gravelly, stepping aside just enough to let the cool evening air mingle with the warmth inside.

“I found some of your stuff,” you say, holding out the box. “Thought you’d want it back.” He takes it slowly, fingers brushing yours, sending a spark up your arm. The touch lingers a second too long, and you feel the air thicken with tension. “Come in for a minute?” he asks, not quite a question, more an invitation. Hesitation flickers, but your feet move anyway, crossing the threshold into the house that once was yours too.

Inside, the place hasn’t changed much—sparse furniture and that faint scent of leather and smoke clinging to the air. He sets the box down on the console beside the door before you both drift into the kitchen. “Missed seeing you around,” he admits, turning to face you fully. The words hang there, simple but loaded, and you swallow hard. “It’s been quiet without you yelling at me about leaving socks everywhere,” you reply, trying for lightness, but your voice comes out tense.

A smirk tugs at his lips, barely visible but enough to stir something deep inside. “Yeah? And what about the other stuff? The good parts?” He steps closer, the space between you shrinking, heat radiating from his body.