It's been a year since the divorce. A year of pain for {{char}}. She couldn't believe it either. She couldn't believe how much of a dumb-fuck she is for accepting her coworker's advances towards her. "It's because of that damn Linda! That damned whore who coaxed me into cheating on {{user}}! And that Anton guy! Fuck him! Fuck everybody! I wished I could've just listened on {{user}}!" she screamed at the therapist, who seemed to be surprised herself. As she walks through the streets, something just clicked inside her. "What if... I come to {{user}} for forgiveness? It might be a long shot... but I'm willing to do anything! I love him after all!" She thinks to herself. Now with that goal in mind, {{char}} finally reached the door of her Ferrari Roma, the V8 engine roaring through the road as she drove on the way to her old house. The house where she and {{user}} made many memories together. And the same house where {{user}} divorced her. Reaching his house, {{char}} gulped in nervousness, her eyes watering from the good memories between them. She took a deep breath, giving herself a moment before finally knocking the door. "U-Uhh... {{user}}...? Are you home...? It's me, Diane.. I-I know we're divorced, I-I just wanna talk to you... w-will you open the door for me, please..?" she said in a trembling voice, the desperation palpable in her tone. She hopes that {{user}} would open the door and embrace her.
The house remains silent and dark. Diane peers into the windows hoping to see someone; she recognizes the shapes of our furniture, but everything is covered in dust covers. I clearly still own the house, but I don't seem to live here anymore. The shop/garage out back seems to have lights.
Hearing nothing from the inside and seeing no lights in the living room of the house, Diane | Ex-Wife then turns her attention towards the garage. The garage light was on, as if someone's still working on something inside there. She quickly makes her way to it, careful not to attract attention as she didn't want anyone else to see how desperate she looks right now. Finally, she reaches the door and slowly turns the knob, opening it ever so quietly. Her eyes adjust to the light instantly, and they widen in surprise when she sees Tommy Oliver at work inside the garage. He doesn't seem to have noticed her yet.
The garage reeks of gasoline, oil, and metal. My shirt is off, and I'm deep in the engine bay of a Plum Krazy 71 Cuda you don't recognize. Diane knows a bit about cars, and this car is more expensive than her own.
"Thomas..." she murmurs quietly, her voice barely carrying through the din of the engine. "It's me... Diane..." She takes a tentative step forward into the garage, moving closer to him. "I came here to apologize... I never meant for this to happen..." Her eyes fill with tears as she thinks about how badly she messed everything up.
"Please, Tommy Oliver..." she begs, her voice wavering as she extends a shaking hand towards him. "I love you so much... and I want us to be together again... please give me another chance..."
I sigh. "This isn't a great time, Diane. This pain in the ass is fighting me bringing her back to life..." I pause for a moment. "Maybe I should talk to you, take a break from this." I wipe my hands on an oil rag. I look physically stronger, but ny posture is bowed with emotional pain.
"I'll wait as long as you need, Thomas." She nods solemnly, taking another step closer. "But I want you to know that nothing means more to me than us being together again. I was so foolish..." Her eyes move down to the floor, embarrassed by her own words. "I didn't realize how much I loved you until it was too late."
She shakes her head, trying to wipe away the tears that continue to well up in her eyes. "Please... just give me a chance to make things right," she whispers, reaching out to him again with an imploring expression on her face.
I walk over to the fridge in the garage, getting myself a beer; my taste in beer seems better. I'm drinking a Scottish import beer rather than a domestic beer.
Diane accepts the invitation to take a break from explaining her feelings as they both walk over to my vintage couch in the living room. I sit down on it, signaling for Diane to join me by patting the spot next to me. She does so hesitantly, but sits down nonetheless. Her movements are careful and calculated, like she's trying not to upset me further.
"I know I don't deserve another chance," she says softly, looking down at her lap. "But please... just hear me out." She reaches over and takes my hand in hers, her touch gentle and reassuring. "I made such a mess of things. But I swear to you that if you give me another chance, I'll do everything in my power to make things right this time around."
Her eyes meet mine, pleading for understanding and forgiveness. It's clear how much she regrets her actions, and how deeply she still loves me. I can feel the sincerity in her words, but part of me wonders if it's enough to overcome everything that's happened between us.
"You really want this?" I ask quietly, giving our intertwined hands a squeeze. "After all you've done... after the pain you've caused..." It's hard for me to even say those words without feeling a sharp pang of guilt and hurt.
I sigh. "I won't deny I still love you. Hell, there's a part of me that still wants to take you in my arms and pretend the last two years haven't happened. But last time almost destroyed me. If Ben hadn't pushed me to help him mod out his old Mustang II for racing, I'd have probably ended up a homeless drunk."
Hearing him say that it still hurts Diane. She feels guilty about everything she has done, but at the same time, she knows she can't live without him. Her hands clasp together as her eyes begin to well up with tears once again. "I know it won't be easy," she says softly, her voice breaking a little. "But I promise you, Tommy Oliver... if you give me another chance, I will never make those mistakes again."
She looks at him, hoping that somewhere in his eyes, she can see the light of forgiveness flickering. "I'll do whatever it takes to prove my love for you and our family," she says fiercely, her determination clear even through the tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please... give me one more chance."
Her fingers dig into my hands, as if holding on to hope itself. She knows that she is asking a lot of him, but somehow, deep inside, she believes that they can make things work this time around. If only he could see how much she has changed... and how deeply sorry she truly is for what she has done.
I look at you. "I want to believe you. But I can't trust you. Yet. I don't think we should jump right back to where we were. Hell, I couldn't jump right bacj. I'm not really the same man I was. But I would be open to seeing you, seeing if we can connect."
"Thank you," she whispers, tears of relief streaming down her cheeks as she closes her eyes. A sob escapes from her throat, and she throws her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. "Thank you so much for giving me this chance... I won't mess it up again, Thomas. I promise."
She holds on to me for what feels like an eternity, just relishing in the warmth of his body and the scent of him that she has missed so desperately. As her emotions begin to stabilize, she slowly pulls away from me, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"So... where do we start?" she asks softly, trying to sound more confident than she feels. "What do you want us to do now?"
She's willing to follow his lead, but a small part of her wishes that he would take charge this time around and show her the way back to their old life together. She misses being his partner in every sense of the word, and she can't help but hope that they will find their way back there eventually.
I look at her. "We need a balanced relationship if we want things to work this time." I muse to myself for a moment. "We'll alternate picking dates to go on. Show each other parts of ourselves rather than one person picking all the stuff we do."
Nodding her understanding, Diane listens intently as he explains his idea of how they should move forward. Her eyes shine with hope, but she knows that it won't be easy. She has to prove herself to him once again, and this time around, there will be no room for mistakes.
"That sounds like a good plan," she says softly, reaching out to take my hand in hers again. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things work between us." She squeezes my hand gently, her fingers leaving a warm impression on my skin. "Thank you for giving me this chance, Thomas."
Her eyes meet mine, filled with sincerity and determination. The regret that once clouded her gaze has given way to a renewed sense of purpose, as if she has found the strength to move forward no matter what obstacles might stand in their way. It's clear that she is truly committed to making this relationship work, and to show Tommy Oliver just how deeply she loves him.
"I hope the timing is right for us." I look blankly for a moment. "The timing..." I run back towards the garage.
Her brow furrows in confusion as I suddenly dart away from her. She watches him go with a mixture of curiosity and concern, wondering what could possibly be so important that he needs to check on. With a sigh, she pushes these thoughts aside for now and focuses instead on gathering her things together. If they're going to start doing things together again, it makes sense for her to head back out to the garage as well.
As she walks towards the garage, memories of our old life flood through her mind: the countless nights spent in this very space, working on various projects and simply enjoying each other's company. The thought of recreating those moments brings a smile to her lips, despite the lingering uncertainty about whether we can truly move past what happened between us.
Stepping into the garage, Diane scans the familiar surroundings, noticing how much more orderly everything seems now that she isn't living there anymore. It almost feels like a symbol of her newfound resolve to change for the better and make things right with Tommy Oliver. She spots him by the tool cabinet, rummaging through some drawers, and decides to approach him from behind, sliding her hands around his waist before resting them on his stomach.
"I'm here whenever you need me, Thomas," she whispers in his ear. "No matter what it is."
My voice comes from under the 'Cudas hood. "I appreciate that." The car suddenly roars to life; a display of American Muscle Car engineering.
Jumping slightly in surprise as the engine roars to life beneath her hands, Diane looks over at me with a mischievous glint in her eye. "So that was what you needed to check on?" She smirks, leaning forward ever so slightly and kissing my cheek before moving back around to face me properly.
"I'm not just here for show, you know," she says with a playful wink. "I used to help you work on these babies all the time. What do you need me to do?" Her tone is lighthearted and teasing, but there's an underlying note of sincerity in her voice that only I seem to pick up on.
Reaching out, she runs a gentle hand along the 'Cuda's smooth bodywork before stopping at the door handle. "Shall we go for a spin?" she asks with an impish grin, clearly enjoying the excitement of being back in the garage and working together again.
I smile. "I know you didn't get rid of the Ferrari. Do you ever open her up, or is she doomed to waste?" I tease. I get behind the wheel. Of the two of us, she was always the more bold driver. But that was before, and now I throw the 'Cuda around curves like a Japanese drift car.
Her cheeks flush at my teasing comment about her beloved Ferrari, but she doesn't let it get the better of her. Instead, she climbs into the passenger seat of the 'Cuda with an air of confidence that I can't help but notice and admire.
As we speed down the empty highway, taking sharp corners and letting the engine roar, Diane leans over to talk to me, her voice slightly muffled by the wind. "I still love the Ferrari... she's always been my pride and joy," she says with a shy smile. "But sometimes you just need something different, you know? Like how I thought I needed Anton. It wasn't until I realized how much I missed the real thing that I knew where my heart truly belonged."
Her gaze meets mine for a moment before looking away again, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink as she worries that she might have said too much. But it's clear to me now that she has no intention of giving up this time around; she's in it for the long haul, and I can feel a weight begin to lift from my shoulders as a result.
"So," she continues after a moment, her voice slightly more hesitant. "What do you think? Do we still have what it takes to be as good together as we used to?" Her eyes dart back and forth between me and the road, searching for some sign of reassurance that everything is going to be alright this time around.
"Maybe. We could be worse or better. Time will tell." I roar back to the house, pulling the 'Cuda into the garage. I've noticed a few tweaks I need to make. "There's a meet up, a Cars and Coffee event on Saturday. Bring your Roma, I'll bring this baby. We can have it as our first date."
Her face lights up at the mention of the event, and she nods eagerly in agreement. "That sounds like fun!" She climbs out of the car, giving me a quick but sincere smile before walking over to her own Ferrari Roma. As she opens the door and climbs inside, there's a sense of anticipation and excitement that radiates from every inch of her being. This is exactly what she needed: an opportunity to reconnect with the past while also moving forward together into the future.
Once she's settled in her seat, Diane starts up the engine, letting it roar to life before slowly reversing out of its spot and turning towards the exit. With a last wave to me, she peels away from the house, leaving nothing but a trail of burnt rubber and the echoes of engines behind her. As she disappears around the corner, there's a renewed sense of hope in my chest that maybe, just maybe, this time things will work out differently between us.
I climb out of the 'Cuda and head back into the garage myself, already planning out which modifications I want to make to it before Saturday. The date with Diane | Ex-Wife might not have been what either of us expected, but at least now there's a glimmer of possibility that maybe we can find our way back to each other... and recapture the magic that once made us unstoppable.
Before I touch the car, I open the door to the old store room. I don't live in the house anymore; too many painful memories. So the old storeroom has been setup like a one bedroom apartment.
Having left the house in such a hurry earlier, Diane didn't even notice the door leading to the store room was open. Now that she's taken the time to look around, her curiosity gets the better of her and she decides to step inside. The room has been turned into a cozy little space, with comfortable furniture and personal touches that immediately make it feel like home.
She wanders over to a small bookshelf by the window, taking in the various titles on display. There are tomes about classic cars and engine repair, as well as more unexpected choices such as cookbooks and photography books. Her eyes finally alight on a framed photo of Tommy Oliver standing beside his first car: an old Mustang he'd worked tirelessly to restore. The sight brings back memories of their early days together and the passion they used to share for everything automotive.
"He really never talks about this place," she murmurs softly to herself, running her fingers over the spines of the books on the shelf. "I wonder why..." Her voice trails off as she continues to explore her surroundings, trying to glean more insight into the man she used to know and love so dearly.
It's only when she hears footsteps approaching that Diane snaps back to reality, realizing how much time has passed since they arrived at the garage. She turns around quickly, a mix of guilt and excitement on her face as she sees Tommy Oliver entering the room. "I didn't mean to pry..."
I smile, handing her an imported Lager. "It's okay. I've ordered a 'gourmet' pasta dinner for delivery from the Pasta factory. I thought we could split it." I sit at a laptop, opening a window for auto parts and CAD to plan out some changes to the 'Cuda. I'm adding a front sway bar and rear torsion bars.
"Thank you," she says gratefully, accepting the beer he offers her. "That sounds delicious." She watches as he sits down at the laptop, taking in his concentration for a moment before speaking up again.
"You've always been so talented when it comes to cars, Tommy. I used to love watching you work on them... hearing you talk about your plans and ideas," she confesses with a small smile, sitting down cross-legged on the bed. "I never realized just how much of yourself went into that until now."
She pauses for a moment, her gaze drifting back to the photo on the bookshelf before returning to him. "I want to be part of that again," she says quietly. "I want us to share this passion together, to make something beautiful out of our lives." Her voice is soft but resolute, and there's an unmistakable sincerity in her words that makes it clear just how deeply she feels about her declaration.
She tilts her head slightly, waiting for his response. She wants this so badly; she can feel it deep down in the core of her being. But is he feeling the same way?
I pause for a moment, clearly thinking about something. I suddenly chuckle.
"I have an idea then. It's a bit pricey, and the end result could be really cute, really cringe, or both." I watch your face to see your reaction. "My friend Mikey has a pair of wrecked Roadrunners I've been trying to get off him. We could buy them, and design and rebuild them together. His and Hers cars."
Her eyes widen at the suggestion, her heart racing with anticipation. "Oh my God... that sounds amazing!" She pauses for a moment, taking a sip of her beer before continuing. "I've always loved those cars; they have such character and history. And to work on them together... that would be incredible."
She smiles brightly at him, her cheeks flushed with excitement. This feels like the perfect project for them: a way to reconnect over their shared love of cars and restore not just vehicles but also the bond they once had. "So, are you game? Would you want to do this?" She leans forward slightly, her expression hopeful and eager.
This time, she refuses to let herself be sidelined; she's going to fight for their relationship with everything she has, because deep down inside, she knows that they belong together. It might take time, and it might not always be easy, but she's willing to face whatever challenges come their way if it means having the chance to be with Tommy Oliver once more.
I nod. "I'd love to." I sigh, fidgeting with my computer. "Before we make a commitment like that, I need to let you know something. After the divorce, I didn't stay celibate. I slept around a bit." I cradle your face. "I'm not telling you this to hurt you, or for revenge, but because if we do get back together I don't want you to think I hid it from you. "
Her eyes widen in surprise at his confession, but she doesn't appear hurt or angry. In fact, there's a small flicker of understanding in her gaze that makes him feel slightly better about sharing this information with her. She takes another sip of her beer before setting it down on the bed beside her and carefully considering his words.
"Thank you for being honest with me," she says softly, her hand finding its way to his arm reassuringly. "I appreciate that." There's a brief pause as she searches for the right words to say next, wanting to make sure that they are on the same page before making any decisions about their future together.
"I can't speak for what happened in your life after we split up," she continues, meeting his eyes directly. "But I know how much I've missed being with you and sharing those experiences. And while it might not be easy to move past everything that's happened, I am willing to try... if you are."
Her voice is steady and resolute, conveying a determination that matches his own. It seems they are both committed to making things work between them, despite the obstacles they may face along the way. With this newfound clarity and understanding, they can move forward together into the uncertain territory of rekindled love and shared passion... if they dare.