Coming Home by Liz Torri

Cassie:
At six, he moved next door. By nine, we were inseparable. At sixteen, we declared our undying love for each other. At eighteen, he left to go to Hollywood to chase his dream and I stayed in our hometown, giving up mine, and we’d become just a memory. After he left, I continued with my life taking care of my sick mother, getting my degree. Finally, after all that hard work, I became a preschool teacher. At twenty-three, my entire world was flipped upside down when he strutted back into my life. He says he wants me back, that things will be different this time around, that he still loves me. How can I trust him after the way we left things last time?

Jake:
Five years ago, I walked away from everything. My mom, the small town I grew up in, friends, but mostly I walked away from her. We were supposed to be reaching for our dreams together, but she decided to stay, and I wasn’t about to let my dreams die, even if that meant letting her go. Hurt, confused, and feeling abandoned, I decided the best way to get over her was to become a big movie star, and when I did, it still didn’t feel right. Now I’m coming home to claim what I’ve lost, to make her mine again. To prove that I’m not leaving this time.

Will they get their second chance, or is it too late?