Love Rewritten and other series

The invitation sat on my kitchen counter like a ticking time bomb.

I had been staring at it for the past fifteen minutes, coffee in one hand, dread curling in my stomach. My best friend, Emma, had sent it weeks ago, but I had ignored it, hoping that if I pretended it didn't exist, I wouldn't have to face the inevitable.

Now, time was up.

"You better not be thinking about skipping out on my wedding," Emma's voice rang in my head from our last phone call. "I don't care how awkward it is. You're my sister, and I need you there."

Awkward was an understatement.

Because while I was genuinely happy for Emma, her fiancé wasn't just anyone. He was Andrew . The best friend of my ex-husband.

Which meant there was no avoiding Lucas Montgomery.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. It had been three years since I last saw him, three years since I signed the divorce papers and walked away from the life we had built together. I had spent every minute of those years convincing myself that I was over him. That I had moved on. That I didn't care.

So why did the thought of seeing him again make my hands tremble?

Shaking my head, I picked up the invitation, running my fingers over the elegant gold lettering. Emma& Andrew request the honor of your presence... The date was two weeks away, and the location was the last place I wanted to go-our hometown.

I had left that town for a reason.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I set my coffee down and walked over, expecting my neighbor or maybe a package delivery. But when I opened it, my stomach dropped.

Standing on my doorstep, looking just as devastatingly handsome as he had all those years ago, was Lucas Montgomery.

"Hello, Claire." His voice was smooth, deep, too familiar. His gaze flickered over me, something unreadable in his stormy blue eyes.

I gripped the doorframe to keep myself steady. "Lucas," I breathed. "What are you doing here?"

A smirk played on his lips, but there was something else beneath it. Something cautious. "Emma sent me."

Of course, she did.

"She was worried you might need a little... encouragement," he continued. "So she asked me to make sure you don't back out of the wedding."

A sharp laugh escaped me. "And you agreed?"

"I owed her a favor."

I narrowed my eyes at him, but before I could respond, he leaned against the doorframe, his expression shifting.

"But between you and me," he added, his voice lower, "I wanted to see you."

My breath caught.

Three years. Three years of silence, of pretending we were strangers.

And now, just like that, Lucas Montgomery was back in my life.

And I had no idea if I was ready for it.

I wasn't ready for this.

Not for the way Lucas looked at me, like I was still someone who mattered. Not for the way his presence stirred something deep inside me-something I had spent years trying to bury.

I tightened my grip on the door, keeping my expression neutral. "You wanted to see me?" I echoed, my voice calm despite the storm brewing inside me.

Lucas studied me for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Then, with a slow nod, he said, "Yeah. It's been a while."

Three years. A thousand days. A lifetime.

"I figured we could catch up," he added, shifting his weight. "Talk."

Talk. The last time we had spoken, our words had been like knives, cutting too deep to ever fully heal. I had told myself there was nothing left to say, no unfinished business. But now, standing here with him, I wasn't so sure.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I finally said, stepping back. "Thanks for stopping by, but I have a lot to do."

Lucas didn't move. His gaze flickered over me like he was memorizing every detail. "Are you really planning to skip Emma's wedding?"

I exhaled sharply. "I haven't decided yet."

"You mean you've already decided, and you're looking for an excuse to back out."

I clenched my jaw. He still knew exactly how to push my buttons.

Lucas tilted his head, his voice quieter when he spoke again. "Emma wants you there, Isla. Don't let whatever's between us stop you from showing up for your sister."

I swallowed hard. "This has nothing to do with you."

He raised an eyebrow, as if he didn't believe me.

Frustration flared in my chest. "I left that town for a reason, Lucas."

"And now you have a reason to go back," he countered.

I hated that he was right. Hated that a part of me was already considering it.

A breeze drifted through the open door, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. The weight of the past settled between us, thick and suffocating.

Finally, Lucas sighed. "I won't push. But think about it, okay?"

Before I could answer, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding, my carefully built walls cracking.

I watched him go, knowing deep down that this wasn't the end of the conversation.

It was only the beginning.

I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to pretend Lucas hadn't just shown up at my door.

It didn't work.

No matter how hard I tried to distract myself-cleaning, answering work emails, even attempting to lose myself in a book-I couldn't shake the memory of his voice, the way his eyes lingered on me like he was searching for something he'd lost.

I hated that a part of me still reacted to him.

I had spent the last three years rebuilding myself, learning how to exist in a world where Lucas Montgomery was just a name from my past. And now, with a single visit, he had undone everything.

I sighed and rubbed my temples. Maybe Emma was right-I needed to stop running. But going back to that town meant facing not just Lucas, but all the ghosts I had left behind.

And I wasn't sure I was ready.

A sharp knock at my door made me jolt. My heart leaped before my mind could catch up, and I cursed myself for even thinking it might be Lucas again.

I pulled the door open, only to find my best friend, Sophie, standing there with two cups of coffee and an all-too-knowing expression.

"I come bearing caffeine and emotional support," she said, holding out one of the cups. "Now let me in before your neighbors start thinking I've been abandoned."

I stepped aside, letting her waltz into my apartment like she owned the place. Sophie had been my rock through everything-the divorce, the move, the nights when I swore I'd never feel whole again.

She flopped onto my couch, kicking off her shoes. "Okay, spill. You sounded weird on the phone earlier."

I sighed and sat beside her, taking a sip of the coffee she handed me. "Lucas showed up."

Her eyes widened. "Here? In your apartment? In the flesh?"

I nodded.

Sophie let out a low whistle. "Damn. And here I was thinking the universe was going to give you a break."

I huffed a laugh, but there was no real humor in it. "He said Emma sent him to make sure I don't skip the wedding."

Sophie narrowed her eyes. "And you believe that?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

She took a slow sip of her coffee, watching me. "I mean, maybe Emma asked him to check on you. But Lucas Montgomery doesn't do favors just because someone asks. If he showed up, it's because he wanted to."

The thought unsettled me more than I cared to admit.

Sophie studied my face, then sighed. "So, what are you going to do?"

I hesitated, staring down at my cup. "I don't know."

She nudged me with her elbow. "Yes, you do. You're just too scared to admit it."

I swallowed hard. Because deep down, I did know.

I was going back home.

And whether I was ready or not, I was going to see Lucas again.

---

Two weeks later, I found myself gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.

The road ahead stretched endlessly, lined with trees that had begun to turn shades of amber and gold. Autumn had always been my favorite season, but today, the beauty of it did little to soothe the storm inside me.

Returning to Willow Creek felt surreal. The town I had once called home had become a place I never thought I'd see again. But here I was, driving past familiar landmarks, each one tugging at memories I wasn't ready to face.

The coffee shop where Lucas and I used to spend lazy Sunday mornings.

The bookstore where we got caught in the rain on our first date.

The park where he kissed me for the first time.

I forced myself to focus on the present, on the reason I was here. Emma's wedding. That's all this is. A weekend, then I'm gone.

My fingers tightened around the wheel as I pulled into my parents' driveway. The house looked the same-warm, welcoming, a place filled with childhood memories. But stepping inside felt different, like I was visiting someone else's past.

Before I could knock, the door swung open, and Emma launched herself at me.

"Oh my God, you actually came!" she squealed, squeezing me so tightly I could barely breathe. "I was mentally preparing a dramatic guilt trip in case you backed out."

I let out a breathless laugh. "You really think I'd miss my little sister's wedding?"

Emma pulled back, her hazel eyes-so much like mine-searching my face. "Honestly? I wasn't sure."

Neither was I.

She grinned, tugging me inside. "Come on, Mom and Dad are dying to see you. And I need you to meet the bridal party."

I followed her into the house, bracing myself for the inevitable flood of relatives and old acquaintances. My parents greeted me with warm hugs, acting as if I hadn't vanished from town for three years. The house smelled like cinnamon and fresh bread, and for a moment, it felt like I had never left.

But then Emma dragged me toward the backyard, and the illusion shattered.

Because standing there, drink in hand, dressed in a crisp white button-down with his sleeves rolled up, was Lucas Montgomery.

His gaze met mine instantly, as if he had sensed my presence before even seeing me. His expression was unreadable, but his posture stiffened slightly.

I had prepared myself for this moment, convinced myself I was ready.

I wasn't.

Emma, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air, beamed. "You remember Lucas, don't you?"

I swallowed hard, forcing a neutral smile. "Of course."

Lucas's lips curved into something resembling a smirk, but there was something else in his eyes-something careful. "Claire."

The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine.

I nodded once. "Lucas."

The past had finally caught up with me.

And I had no idea what was coming next.

---

If awkward tension could kill, I'd be a ghost right now.

Lucas and I stood there, locked in some silent battle neither of us had agreed to, while Emma chatted away, completely oblivious. The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses from the party around us felt distant, muffled by the roaring in my ears.

I hadn't seen him in three years. And now, here he was, standing just a few feet away, looking both impossibly familiar and like a stranger at the same time.

"So," Emma said, breaking the silence, "since you already know Lucas, I don't have to introduce you." She grinned, nudging my arm. "Which is perfect, because you'll be seeing a lot of him this weekend."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

Lucas lifted his drink to his lips, watching me with quiet amusement. "I'm the best man."

My stomach dropped. "You're what?"

Emma gave me an exasperated look. "Claire, Andrew and Lucas are best friends. Who else would he pick?"

Of course. I had known that, but a part of me had hoped Lucas would be too busy, too distant, too something to be involved.

Apparently, the universe wasn't feeling generous.

"Since you're the maid of honor," Emma continued, still oblivious to the silent war happening between me and my ex-husband, "you two are going to be spending a lot of time together."

I stiffened. Lucas smirked.

Fantastic.

Emma suddenly gasped. "Oh! I have to introduce you to Andrew's sister. She's inside-be right back!" And just like that, she disappeared into the house, leaving me alone with the one person I wasn't ready to face.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The silence stretched between us, thick with memories and things left unsaid.

Then Lucas tilted his head slightly, his eyes flickering over me. "So. Maid of honor."

I crossed my arms. "Best man."

His lips twitched. "Guess that means we'll be partners this weekend."

I exhaled sharply, keeping my voice even. "We don't have to make it a thing."

"Make what a thing?"

"This," I gestured vaguely between us. "The past. Whatever this is. We're here for Emma and Andrew, so let's just get through the wedding and be done with it."

Lucas hummed as if considering my words. Then, with that same unreadable smirk, he said, "Sure. No problem."

Something about his easy agreement made me suspicious, but before I could question it, Emma returned, dragging a blonde woman behind her.

"Claire, this is Isabelle, Andrew's sister," she said, beaming. "And Izzy, this is my sister, Claire."

I turned to Isabelle with a polite smile. "Nice to meet you."

She returned the smile, but there was something in her expression-something sharp, assessing. "So you're Claire," she mused, tilting her head slightly. "I've heard a lot about you."

I tensed. "Have you?"

Her gaze flickered ever so briefly to Lucas before she shrugged. "Small town. People talk."

I felt Lucas shift beside me, but I didn't look at him. Instead, I kept my expression carefully neutral. "Well, I hope they had good things to say."

Isabelle smiled, but there was something in her eyes that made my stomach twist.

"I guess we'll find out."

I had a feeling this weekend was going to be a lot more complicated than I'd anticipated.

And somehow, I knew Lucas Montgomery would be at the center of it all.

AUTHOR NOTE

to avoid confusion Claire is also known as Isla as Claire is her nickname and also she knows Emma as her sister and best friend

If first impressions were anything to go by, Isabelle Sinclair had already decided she didn't like me.

I wasn't sure why, but the way she looked at me-sharp, curious, as if she were piecing together a puzzle-put me on edge. The air between us was thick with unspoken words, and I could feel Lucas watching the exchange, though he said nothing.

Emma, blissfully unaware of the tension, looped her arm through mine. "You're going to love Izzy, Claire. She's helping with some of the wedding planning. Oh! And she and Lucas have been working together on a surprise for me."

A surprise.

Together.

The word lodged itself in my throat.

Isabelle caught the flicker of something in my expression, and her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. "Lucas and I have spent a lot of time together these past few months," she said, her voice casual but pointed. "Haven't we?"

Lucas finally spoke, his tone unreadable. "Some."

Some.

Not exactly a confirmation, but not a denial either.

I told myself I didn't care. Lucas wasn't mine anymore. Who he spent time with, who he wanted to spend time with, was none of my business.

And yet, my fingers curled slightly at my sides.

"Anyway," Isabelle said, flipping her hair over her shoulder, "it's nice to finally meet you, Claire. I've been curious about the infamous ex-wife."

My stomach tightened.

Emma laughed nervously. "Izzy, don't-"

"What?" Isabelle's smile was all innocence, but there was something calculating in her gaze. "I mean, it's not every day you meet the woman who walked away from Lucas Montgomery."

A muscle in Lucas's jaw twitched.

Emma cleared her throat. "Izzy, let's-"

But I didn't need Emma to protect me.

I plastered on a smile, my voice smooth. "Funny. From what I remember, Lucas was the one who let me go."

That wiped the smirk off Isabelle's face.

Lucas's fingers tightened around his drink.

Emma looked between us like she was ready to dive into the nearest bush.

"Well," Isabelle finally said, her expression unreadable, "this weekend should be interesting."

She excused herself after that, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.

Emma muttered something about checking on the seating arrangements and scurried off, clearly eager to escape the tension.

Which left me alone with Lucas.

Again.

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "You didn't have to do that."

I folded my arms. "Do what?"

"Play into whatever game she's trying to start."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so I'm the one playing games?"

Lucas sighed but didn't argue.

A breeze drifted through the yard, rustling the autumn leaves. I hated that, despite everything, standing this close to him still made my heart race.

Finally, he looked at me, something unreadable in his eyes. "You really think I let you go?"

His voice was quiet. Almost... regretful.

I swallowed hard, refusing to let myself fall into old memories. "Does it matter?"

Lucas studied me for a moment before shaking his head. "I guess not."

But the way he said it-the way his voice dipped, like he wasn't sure if he believed it-made my chest tighten.

I needed to get away from him. From this conversation. From the past threatening to pull me under.

"I should go help Emma," I said quickly, stepping back.

Lucas didn't stop me.

But as I walked away, I felt his gaze linger on me-heavy, familiar, dangerous.

And no matter how much I wanted to ignore it, one truth was becoming impossible to deny.

Lucas Montgomery wasn't as over the past as he pretended to be.

And maybe... neither was I.

The reception hall was chaos.

Not in a disastrous way-at least, not yet-but in the way all wedding preparations inevitably became. Bridesmaids rushed between tables, florists adjusted centerpieces, and my mother was in the corner scolding someone about the "right shade of ivory" for the napkins.

I tried to focus on my task-double-checking the seating chart-but my mind was still stuck on my last conversation with Lucas.

"You really think I let you go?"

That question had been circling in my head like an annoying fly I couldn't swat away. Because the way he'd asked it-the way his voice had dipped-made me wonder if I'd been wrong about everything.

But that was dangerous thinking. I wasn't here for Lucas. I was here for Emma.

I was scribbling notes on the seating arrangement when a shadow fell over me.

"You look deep in thought."

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Lucas.

Of course.

I took a calming breath before glancing at him. "Just making sure everything is in order."

He crossed his arms, glancing at the chart. "Am I still sitting next to you?"

My stomach tightened, but I kept my expression neutral. "Unfortunately."

A slow smirk tugged at his lips. "Don't sound too excited."

I rolled my eyes, looking back down at the chart. "I'd ask Emma to change it, but I'm afraid she'd bite my head off."

He chuckled, and the sound was entirely too familiar-too comfortable. It made me feel things I didn't want to feel.

I ignored him and kept working, but Lucas wasn't done.

"Look, about earlier..." He hesitated, then sighed. "Isabelle was out of line."

I blinked, surprised he was even acknowledging it.

"She doesn't speak for me," he continued. "She thinks she knows everything, but she doesn't."

I arched a brow. "And what does she know?"

Lucas hesitated. Then, quietly, he said, "That I never really got over you."

My heart stopped.

I stared at him, but he held my gaze, unwavering. There was no teasing smirk, no mask of indifference. Just raw honesty.

It made breathing suddenly difficult.

I didn't know what to say to that, so I defaulted to the safest option.

"Lucas-"

"I know," he cut in. "You don't want to go there. I get it." He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "But being around you again, Claire... It's not as easy as I thought it would be."

My throat felt tight. "Then maybe we should stay out of each other's way."

Lucas huffed a quiet laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah. Good luck with that."

I didn't respond. I couldn't. Because deep down, we both knew the truth.

No matter how much I tried to avoid him, Lucas Montgomery had a way of pulling me back in.

And I was starting to fear that this time, I might not be able to walk away.