Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 28

Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 28 Summary

 

Addie struggles with her lingering feelings for Tanner, despite recognizing that his attempts to reconnect feel like a childish tantrum. She has reached a point where she no longer believes they have a chance and firmly cuts him out of her digital life by blocking and deleting him from all her apps. This act of erasure symbolizes her effort to move on and protect herself emotionally.

 

The next day, Tanner confronts Addie near the salad bar, teasing her about being independent and revealing that he unblocked her days ago. He tries to persuade her to add him back, showing a mix of persistence and charm. Addie remains guarded, using the word “ex” to assert boundaries, but Tanner dismisses it, confident that she can’t stay mad at him. When Addie tries to walk away, he pulls her back down and offers her Jollibee chicken, explaining he went out of his way to bring it to her. His gesture reveals a softer side beneath his cocky demeanor.

 

Their interaction is interrupted by Ayla, who confronts Tanner with suspicion and coldness, accusing him of ignoring her texts and wasting time on Addie. Tanner remains unfazed, brushing off Ayla’s accusations and asserting his independence. Addie, unfazed by the drama, tells Tanner that Ayla is waiting for him and focuses on enjoying the food he brought, signaling her emotional detachment.

 

Tanner misreads Addie’s calm as a sign of weakness or defeat and tries to provoke a reaction, but Addie firmly tells him that he no longer involves her in his life. Tanner expresses a mix of pity and frustration, reminding her that despite their differences, he chose her. Addie remains silent, savoring the moment alone, while Tanner smugly captures her image to post on social media, framing the situation as a victory over her jealousy.

 

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Even now, Tanner couldn’t shake the feeling that all of this was just a drawn-out tantrum—a childish stunt where I held my breath until I got what I wanted. There was a time when even the smallest flicker of his attention would have shattered my resolve completely.

But that was before I came to a hard truth: I only ever made things easy when I still believed we had a chance.

So I stayed silent. I didn’t reply to him. Instead, I wiped him clean from my digital world—blocked him on Instagram, deleted his number, removed him from every app imaginable. Completely erased.

The very next day, I found him waiting near the salad bar, like he knew I’d be there.

“Look at you, all independent and stuff,” he teased, that same cocky smirk curling at the corners of his mouth. “By the way, I unblocked you like four days ago. Didn’t even notice?”

He reached out for my phone, casual but persistent. “Come on, Addie. Just stop this. Add me back.”

I clutched my phone tighter, pressing it against my chest like a shield. “Does the word ‘ex’ mean anything to you?” I asked, voice low but steady.

He just smiled wider, unbothered. “Not when it’s you,” he said with that familiar grin. “You’ve never been able to stay mad at me.”

A dry laugh slipped past my lips. I started to walk away, but before I could get far, he grabbed my arm and pulled me down firmly into a chair.

“Okay, fine. Point taken,” I muttered, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. “But at least eat the Jollibee I drove twenty miles to bring you.”

He slid the bright red box toward me with a small, hopeful smile. “Saw you sitting alone yesterday… didn’t sit right with me. You don’t really have anyone else here, do you?”

Then, almost casually, he asked, “Have you booked your flight home for Thanksgiving yet?”

“Yeah,” I said softly, the word barely above a whisper. “I did.”

Just not the destination he expected.

“Send me your flight info. I’ll pick the seat next to yours,” he said, eyes gleaming with a mix of challenge and something softer.

Before I could answer, Ayla’s sharp voice cut through the hum of the cafeteria.

“Tanner.”

She stood there, eyes sharp and phone in hand, clearly ready for battle. “You said you had ‘something important’ to do.”

Sometimes, I wondered if she had notifications set up for every time he so much as breathed near me.

Tanner didn’t even flinch. “I do. This is important.”

But Ayla wasn’t buying it.

“You ignored my texts all day. I thought you were busy with family stuff. Or, I don’t know, actual important things.”

Her voice dropped, cold and clear as ice. “Not this.”

He didn’t blink. “If you didn’t want to hang out, you could’ve just said so. I don’t do clingy.”

Then, with a loud clatter, she dumped her tray on the nearest table and stormed off—as if I were the other woman she’d just caught him with.

I didn’t even bother to look after her. “Go ahead. She’s waiting,” I told Tanner quietly.

I wasn’t about to waste perfectly good Jollibee chicken. Once I left, it would be gone for good.

Tanner studied my face, clearly misinterpreting my calm as a silent victory.

“Wait—so you’re seriously not going to fight me on this?” he asked, leaning in, searching my eyes for a flicker of the old Addie—the one who cared.

“Do whatever you want, Tanner,” I said, voice steady. “It doesn’t involve me anymore.”

My tone caught him off guard. He froze for a moment, then let out a sigh that sounded like he thought *he* was the one being patient.

“You think I’m oblivious, but I’m not,” he said quietly. “I just feel sorry for her. Her life’s been hard.”

“Not everyone grows up loved like you did, Addie. You wouldn’t get it.”

“But even though you’ve always been loved… I still chose you. Remember that.”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I dipped another piece of chicken into the gravy, savoring the taste.

Tanner watched me eat, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He thought he’d won.

Then, pulling out his phone, he snapped a picture of me mid-bite and posted it to his Instagram story with the caption:

“Another crisis successfully managed. Little miss jealous is eating again. ??”

Conclusion

 

The chapter closes on a bittersweet note, capturing the complex dance between past affection and present boundaries. Addie’s quiet strength shines through her measured responses and firm decisions, even as Tanner’s familiar charm and persistence linger like a shadow from their shared history. Their interaction is a delicate balance of lingering emotions and the painful acceptance that some connections, no matter how intense, must be redefined or left behind.

 

At its core, the chapter explores themes of healing, self-respect, and the struggle to move forward when old wounds are reopened. Addie’s resolve to protect herself, despite Tanner’s relentless efforts, reflects the painful but necessary journey toward emotional independence. In this moment, the story acknowledges that while time can heal, it also demands courage to face the past and choose a different path—one that prioritizes personal growth over familiar comfort.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled emotions simmering beneath Tanner and Addie’s strained interactions. As Tanner’s casual confidence clashes with Addie’s newfound resolve, the fragile balance between them teeters on the edge of something unpredictable. Will Addie’s silence and distance finally force Tanner to confront the reality of their fractured relationship, or will his persistent charm continue to chip away at her defenses?

 

Meanwhile, the sharp tension introduced by Ayla’s confrontation hints at complications beyond just Tanner and Addie’s personal battle. Her presence raises questions about loyalty, boundaries, and the true nature of Tanner’s intentions. As these intertwined relationships unfold, expect a mix of raw vulnerability and unspoken truths to surface, challenging each character’s understanding of love, trust, and what it means to truly let go.