Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 25 Summary
Eddie struggles to carry a box of Tanner’s belongings down the dormitory stairs, preparing to leave behind their shared past. As he reaches the entrance, he nearly collides with Tanner and Ayla, who is clinging to Tanner and laughing loudly. Tanner’s confident demeanor falters momentarily when he sees Eddie, expecting an emotional reaction, but Eddie remains detached and avoids looking at him.
Tanner tries to negotiate, asking Eddie not to discard a wooden wolf carving he made, but Eddie coldly refuses, stating he doesn’t want anything that reminds him of Tanner. Ayla then grabs Eddie’s wrist, urging him not to overthink the situation and insists that she and Tanner are just friends. Eddie sharply challenges her claim, pointing out the intimate and personal ways she is involved in Tanner’s life, which contradict her “just friends” narrative.
Eddie’s anger surfaces as he confronts Ayla, accusing her of pretending to be “one of the guys” and playing a fake nice-girl act. Ayla’s confident smirk quickly fades, and she tries to apologize, but Tanner interrupts, coldly defending her and dismissing Eddie’s feelings. Tanner’s glare and harsh words reveal his protective stance toward Ayla and his disdain for Eddie’s presence.
Refusing to engage further with Tanner’s bitterness, Eddie decisively drops the box of Tanner’s belongings into the trash bin, symbolizing his final break and determination to move on from the toxic dynamic. The chapter ends with Eddie’s firm choice to leave the past behind, signaling no chance for reconciliation.
Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below
I struggled down the dormitory stairs, lugging the box filled with Tanner’s belongings. My fingers gripped the worn cardboard tightly as I neared the main entrance. Just as I pushed the door open, I nearly collided with him—and Ayla, who was practically hanging off his arm.
Her laughter rang out far too loudly, a playful shove aimed at his shoulder.
“One case of beer? Please. I could outdrink you any day, Miller. Don’t even think about trying me.”
Tanner’s smirk faltered the moment he spotted me. His confident expression wavered for just a second, and he subtly tried to pull away from Ayla’s clingy grip.
He was waiting—expecting the tears, the drama, the jealous meltdown I used to throw whenever I saw him with someone else. But this time? I didn’t even glance his way. I shifted the box and kept moving forward.
That’s when he stepped directly in front of me, that same arrogant grin creeping back onto his face.
“Okay, okay—you can trash the hoodies, but not the wooden wolf. I carved that thing for a month. My fingers still have trust issues,” he said, voice teasing.
I looked straight through him, my tone cold. “Don’t worry. I don’t want anything that reminds me of you.”
He laughed, like I’d just cracked a joke. “Your loss, darling.”
As I turned away, Ayla suddenly grabbed my wrist. Her touch made me freeze in place.
“Eddie, wait. Seriously, don’t overthink this,” she said softly.
“She had a few too many drinks, so Tanner walked me back. We’re literally just friends. I’m basically a guy in his world, okay?”
“‘A guy?’” I snapped, my voice sharp and loud enough that a few people leaving the dorm paused to watch the scene unfold.
“Do ‘guys’ make him run to CVS at midnight to buy their tampons? Do ‘guys’ have private Minecraft worlds with him—building houses together, going on ‘adventures’ like some digital power couple? Do ‘guys’ text him three times a week to bring them a milkshake because they’re ‘too sad to go alone’?”
I stepped closer, my anger bubbling over, burning in my chest.
“If you really think you’re ‘one of the guys,’ maybe you should get that delusion checked by a professional. But if you keep playing this fake nice-girl act in my face one more time—”
Ayla’s smirk vanished instantly. Her expression shifted from caught off guard, to embarrassed, then to a fake wounded look, all within seconds.
“Whoa, I didn’t know you were keeping score. Fine. I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to—”
Tanner yanked her back sharply, his voice cold and hard.
“You don’t apologize to her.”
He shot me a glare, eyes dark. “She’s always been like this—thinks she owns me. Throws a fit over nothing.”
I didn’t wait around to hear any more of his poison.
Without a second thought, I walked straight to the trash bin, lifted the box high, and let it drop with a heavy, final thud.
No turning back now.
Conclusion
The weight of the past finally settled into a quiet resolve, and for the first time, I felt the sting of heartbreak begin to dull. The tangled emotions that once consumed me now seemed distant, replaced by a fierce determination to reclaim my own peace. Tanner’s presence, once a storm in my life, had become something I could face without crumbling, a testament to the strength I’d found within myself.
Though the pain lingered like a faint echo, I understood that some wounds need time to heal, and some chapters must close before new stories can begin. This moment marked not just an end, but a beginning—one where I could walk forward unburdened, ready to embrace whatever lay ahead without looking back.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
Next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled emotions simmering beneath the surface of these strained relationships. Eddie’s decision to discard Tanner’s belongings signals a turning point, but the unresolved tension between them hints that the past won’t let go so easily. Expect the raw vulnerability and unspoken regrets to come to the fore, challenging Eddie’s resolve and forcing him to confront what he truly wants moving forward.
Meanwhile, Ayla’s presence and her complicated connection to Tanner add another layer of conflict and intrigue. Her attempt to downplay the situation only seems to ignite Eddie’s protective instincts and jealousy, setting the stage for confrontations that could reveal hidden truths or deepen existing wounds. The delicate balance between friendship, resentment, and lingering affection will be tested, leaving readers eager to see who will stand firm and who might finally break.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
