The Bounce Back Lover

I cannot count the number of old lovers who come crawling out of the woodwork after time has passed. Seriously, it’s like a theme in my life. I’ve always believed in second chances—if I didn’t, I would’ve never gotten engaged. But then again, an ex is an ex for a reason, right?

I’m not sure if all these cliché sayings are actually true, but one thing’s for sure: they keep coming back.

I bring this up because I was watching What’s Your Number over the weekend. Yes, it’s a cheesy chick flick, but I’m a sucker for a sappy love story with a little comedy thrown in. If you haven’t seen it, the main character (Anna Faris) decides to track down all of her exes so she doesn’t go over her “number,” all while falling for her hot neighbor. It’s lighthearted and ridiculous, but somehow, it hit home.

Why? Because someone I had dated earlier this month—who ghosted me—decided to text me out of nowhere. I know, not exactly the same plotline, but the timing was oddly fitting. A part of me wanted to hear him out, but I also couldn’t shake the feeling of abandonment from before. So, I thanked him for the apology and left it at that.

I don’t know what it is that makes these guys come back. Maybe I’m just that amazing. (Totally possible. 😌) But I also can’t help wondering—what made them leave in the first place? Maybe they weren’t ready for something real. Maybe someone else dumped them and now they want comfort. Or maybe they just remembered how good they had it.

I’ll never knock the idea of second chances—but I’m also not here for history repeating itself. One of my favorite sayings still stands:
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”