Semua Bab The Ex-Change: Bab 21 - Bab 27

(Clarice’s POV)In the middle of taking a cold shower, the cloud of confusion that had settled over me all week was overwhelming. All I could think about was James—We had a good thing going, he loved me, and I never had to question it. He made me laugh till I cried and my insides hurt. He knew me. He carried me. When I was overwhelmed, he knew how to calm me. He knew how to warm me. He knew how to touch me. He knew where to touch me. When we made love, it was magic, it was insane. He was the only one who really knew how to satisfy me. Now, everything just keeps flooding back and I cannot help but think back to how good things were. James was my person. He was for me. Back then, I always knew that. Why did I have to mess it up? Why did he have to bring up Italy? Damn. I need to get out of the shower before something happens.I haven’t been this confused in a while. This wasn’t me. This wasn’t Clarice who always has everything

(James’s POV)The day had been a blur, full of deadlines and meetings that dragged on longer than expected. By the time I got Clarice’s call, I could barely keep my eyes open. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to her—I always wanted to talk to her—but I was buried in work, a pile of papers I couldn’t escape. The office had me in its grip, and I was barely holding on. I didn’t even know what time it was anymore. It felt like it had been a hundred hours since I’d seen sunlight.“Clarice.” I managed to say.“Hey umm, You sound busy. Are you?” She sounded… unsure.Her voice was soft, but I could tell from the sound of it that she was expecting something different. “Yeah, I’ve got a lot to get to today.” My tone was sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t help it. My mind was elsewhere—on the reports, the emails, the presentation I hadn’t finished. It was all too much, and it felt like there was no way out.I could hear her pause on the other end, th

(Clarice’s POV)I can’t say how long we stood there, the atmosphere weighted with unspoken feelings. James had just confessed it—he wanted to see me. His words were quiet, almost hesitant, yet they rang with sincerity. And that sincerity caused my heart to ache like never before. I inhaled deeply, my hands curling helplessly at my sides. “James…” He shook his head, dismissing it. “Forget it.” He turned away, heading toward the kitchen as if he needed space, but I couldn’t let this moment fade. Not when it was the first genuine thing he’d said since he opened that door. “I don’t want to forget it,” I said, moving closer to him. “I need to understand why.” James let out a sharp breath, leaning against the counter. His back was to me, his muscles tense beneath his shirt. “Does it even matter?” “Yes.” A dry laugh escaped him. “Why? So you can soothe your conscience? So you feel better about what went down with Ryan?” I flinched but held my g

(Clarice’s POV)Anna came over to help me move out of James's apartment. I didn't have much to pack, but it was Anna—naturally, she wanted to be a small part of it. Standing in the middle of the living room like a foreman inspecting the site, she planted her hands firmly on her hips, her eyes roaming around the space with a blend of curiosity and mild criticism. “I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that you lived here for a while,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s not terrible, but…” She gestured vaguely at the place. “It’s so… him.” I let out a breath, dropping my bag near the couch. “That’s what it means to be in someone else's space.” Anna turned to me, a playful grin stretching across her face. “Did it ever feel like home?” The question took me by surprise. I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out right away. The truth was—somewhere along the journey, it had stopped feeling temporary. James's apartmen