Val's pov
"Some goodbyes have a return date. Some don't. And some… leave you guessing."
Saturday afternoons were supposed to be warm.
They were supposed to smell like laundry fresh out the dryer, like Emma's popcorn and old cartoons echoing from the living room, like soft socks and soft hearts.
But mine smelled like antiseptic, bitterness, and dust.
My body was sore. My face felt tight from dried tears. And my knee—still stiff, still aching—was wrapped under three layers of compression and pity.
I hadn't left my room all day.
Didn't bother brushing my hair.
Didn't eat lunch. Didn't ask for anything.
Just lay there. With my phone screen lighting up occasionally with TikTok notifications I didn't open. And Theo's profile that I had checked… three times already. Okay, maybe five.
The post never came back.
The one where he looked disgustingly happy with Nicol.
Maybe he deleted it because of the backlash. Maybe it was never meant to be seen. Maybe he regretted it.
Or maybe I was just being delusional.
Again.
---
Around 4PM, my phone rang.
I almost didn't pick up—until I saw the name:
Avinav 🧃
I clicked immediately. "What?"
"Okay, rude," came his familiar voice. "I call out of nowhere on a Saturday to bless you with good news and you pick up like I'm a scam call."
I sat up straighter in bed. My heart was already trying to leap. "Good news?"
"Yeah," he said, voice casual but teasing. "So… did you hear?"
My heart clenched. "Hear what?"
"You know… the post," he said slowly. "The one that broke you a little. Or a lot."
"I swear to God, Avinav—"
"Okay, okay!" he laughed. "I'm saying that despite that post, despite the Russia vacation, the tea, the drama, the snow—he's coming back."
I blinked. "What?"
"He's returning," Avinav said softly. "To England. Probably tonight. Maybe tomorrow. I don't have the details yet."
I didn't know what to say. I sat there, mouth open, trying to process the words.
"He's coming back…" I whispered.
"Yeah."
"But…" I frowned. "But why? He posted with Nicol. He said he was having the best time of his life."
"Yeah, well," Avi said, voice dry. "People lie online all the time, love."
My chest tightened. "Do you think… I mean… do you think he's okay?"
"I don't know," he replied. "But he's returning. That has to mean something, right?"
My hand was clutching the blanket. "When?"
"I said I don't know."
"Today? Tonight? Tomorrow? What time?"
"I don't have the flight schedule, Val," he teased gently. "Relax. It's not like you're gonna wait at Heathrow with a sign that says 'Heartbroken Girl: Pick Me'."
I flushed. "Shut up."
"Just wait at home. You've got a busted knee, puffy eyes, and emotional trauma. Stay cozy. Heal. Eat ice cream."
I sighed. "I hate that you're right."
"Good. Because I'm coming over. With Ash."
My eyes narrowed. "Why is Ashley coming?"
"Because she has your favourite flavor. Also because…" His voice dropped. "You kinda need someone to tell you your hair looks like a depressed cloud."
"AVINAV!"
"Love you," he cackled, hanging up.
---
An hour later, they were in my room.
Ashley had tied my hair in a bun so cute it looked like a Pinterest photo. Avinav brought three tubs of ice cream—mango, coffee swirl, and a flavor I didn't ask about but trusted him with.
"You look like you haven't spoken to the sun in three years," Ash said, poking my cheek as she sat beside me on the bed.
"I almost died skating."
"You almost died from dramatic tendencies," Avinav muttered, spooning mango into his mouth. "But go off."
---
After about twenty minutes of eating and lightly roasting me, it happened.
Ashley looked up at me. "You know we're dating now, right?"
I blinked. "Wait, what?"
She turned red. Avinav smirked. "Yeah. Surprise. Officially dating. It's your fault."
"My what?"
"You trauma-bonded us," Ash deadpanned. "He was helping me cheer you up and I don't know… he was being kind of hot and annoying, and then boom. We made out near the vending machine."
"You're welcome," Avi added, winking.
I groaned and threw a pillow at them. "I'm in my grieving era and y'all are living your rom-com."
"You'll get your rom-com too," Ash whispered, pulling me into a side-hug.
But I didn't answer.
Because in my head…
All I could see was that post.
All I could hear was "Best time of my life."
Even if he was coming back…
Did that mean anything?
Or was it just another goodbye waiting to happen?