Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart

Sarah's pov.

Richard tried to brush it off, but I could see something had caught his attention. He kept glancing out the window, his smile tight, eyes a bit too serious.

My own stomach twisted a little. The dinner, the laughs - it had felt like we'd slipped into our own little world, but now, something about his unease tugged me back to reality. "Richard," I nudged, my voice softer, "what is it, really? You're worrying me."

He looked at me, then back at the window, like he was trying to figure out what to say. "It's just... There's a car out there. Been sitting there for a while now."

A prickle ran down my spine. I shifted in my seat, glancing out the window without trying to look too obvious.

Sure enough, there it was. An old sedan parked across the street, the lights dimmed, engine humming. Whoever was in there didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave. "Maybe they're just... lost?" I offered, trying to make it sound convincing, though I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince him or myself.

"Maybe," Richard murmured, but his tone wasn't exactly comforting. "But it's late. And they've been parked there since... I don't know, since right before we sat down to eat."

My mind raced, pulling up every movie scene I'd ever watched about mysterious cars lurking in the shadows.

I wanted to shake off the feeling, to laugh at myself for being paranoid, but something about the way Richard was watching that car told me this wasn't just my imagination.

"Maybe... maybe it's a neighbor's friend or something," I said, my voice a little weaker than I wanted it to be. But even as I said it, I knew it didn't feel right. "Or maybe I'm just being dramatic." He gave me a faint smile, but I could see the worry etched in his eyes. "You're not. It's not just you."

He squeezed my hand, holding on tightly. "I'm probably overthinking it, but... just in case, let's keep the curtains drawn tonight."

I nodded, my heart thudding a little faster. I tried to keep my face calm, tried to focus on the warmth of his hand around mine, but the thought kept tugging at me - was that car just a coincidence? Or was there something, someone, watching us?

We tried to go back to our dinner, but it was hard to pretend everything was normal. I could hear the silence between us, like we were both listening for something we couldn't quite hear.

After a few more bites, I couldn't take it anymore. I set my fork down and stood up, peeking out the edge of the curtain.

The car was still there. My pulse quickened, and I felt Richard's hand on my shoulder, grounding me.

"Hey," he said softly, "it's probably nothing. But if it makes you feel better, I can call the securities or... I don't know, maybe ask the neighbors if they've seen anything strange."

I nodded, but something in my gut told me that calling someone wouldn't be enough.

I couldn't shake the feeling that this was connected somehow - to the guy with the camera, to the strange vibe I'd felt at the comedy club, to the laughter that had just a hint of nervousness beneath it. But I didn't want to drag Richard into my fears, to ruin what had been such a light-hearted evening.

I didn't want him to think I was spiraling into paranoia.

Still, as I looked out at that car, I couldn't help but wonder... who was out there? And what did they want?

I tore my eyes away from the window and turned back to Richard, doing my best to muster a small smile. "Maybe it's nothing. Let's just... finish dinner and pretend it's just another night."

He nodded, though I could see the lingering worry in his eyes, matching the nervous flutter in my stomach.

We went back to our seats, trying to pick up the conversation where we'd left off, but it was hard to ignore the slight tension that now settled between us.

Richard took a deep breath, breaking the silence. "You know what? I've got an idea. Why don't we do something a bit different tonight? Change the mood. It's been a while since we did something spontaneous." I raised an eyebrow, curiosity starting to edge out my unease. "Spontaneous, huh? What are you thinking?"

His grin was almost mischievous. "You'll see. Come on, grab your coat."

As we stepped out of the house, my eyes went straight to the spot across the street where the car had been parked.

Nothing. It was gone.

I blinked, a mix of relief and confusion swirling through me. Had it really just been a coincidence?

Maybe I was being paranoid. But after that message on Richard's phone, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Richard seemed to notice the change in my expression, and he gave me a reassuring smile. "Looks like our mystery car finally took the hint," he said, slipping his hand into mine.

"Maybe," I replied, my voice a little quieter than I intended. "I guess it's silly to think someone would be... watching us."

His hand gave mine a gentle squeeze, bringing me back to the present. "Hey, we're going out tonight. You need a break, and so do I. Just trust me, alright?"

I nodded, letting his warmth ground me. "Where are we going, by the way?"

"You'll see," he said, his eyes lighting up with that playful glint he got whenever he had a surprise planned. "It's a little different, but I think you'll like it."

We walked down the street, the crisp night air wrapping around us, washing away some of my lingering worry.

Richard guided us along until we reached a narrow side street, where a string of twinkling lights hung between buildings, casting a soft glow over a quaint little restaurant that looked like it had been plucked from another era.

It was small, and cozy, with a sign that read, "La Petite Évasion."

"Here?" I asked, surprised. "How did you even find this place?"

Richard grinned. "Let's just say I have my ways."

Inside, it felt like stepping into a tiny slice of Europe. The dim lighting and soft music set an intimate, almost magical tone, and I felt the last bit of tension start to melt away. We were led to a small table by the window, and as we settled in, I found myself smiling.

"See? Nothing like a bit of mystery to make things interesting," Richard said, pouring us each a glass of wine.

I laughed softly, clinking my glass with his. "Alright, I admit it. This was a good idea."

We fell into an easy rhythm, talking about everything and nothing at all. Richard had this way of drawing me out, making me forget the rest of the world and focus on the here and now.