Love, Once Again

th leading to the grand New York city, she felt the pas

herself she'd nev

eckoned her forward. The air was thick with the scent of roses and champagne, laughter spilling from the ballroom ahead. Strings

smile as she

uld do

couldn't say no-not after everything Emma had done for her growing up. This was just another event

hat had bee

she s

n Ca

hair slightly tousled, fingers wrapped around a glass of whiskey. His pres

tomach

d packed her bags and left Maplewood without a backward glance. Seven years

he sleepy town and the tangled emotions that Ethan brought with him. But standing there now, watchin

urned away, hoping-prayi

la

t second, everything else faded-the music, the gu

was no anger in his eyes. That would have been easier. Instead, there was calm... unsettling calm, li

opposite direction. Pretend he w

hin, forced her legs to m

voice betraying none

of his drink before

steady, with just a hint of roughness,

ie. Of course, he'd be here-Emma's fiancé was his childhoo

w. "Would it have

all. Maybe she would've made some excuse about wor

m the answer he

r liquid in his glass. "Then

ears apart, and yet standing here, facing

ything ha

teady, even as her heart raced. She wondered if he could hear it too-if

came," Ethan

She glanced up, searching his

"Emma thought you might run the mome

dry laugh. "

ugh to suggest the ghost o

I did

ched between them, heav

she asked before she

n't waver. "I've

had hoped for. Maybe she wanted to hear he missed her. Maybe she wante

that she wasn't the o

breaking the spell. Ava exhaled, stepping ba

seeing you

omething that wasn't q

answer, he turned

t, the past wasn'

ng down her neck. Re

er screamed to follow him, to say everything she hadn't said all those years ago. But anot

, spinning, clinking glasses like nothing else in the world mattered. To

eeded

r now, the breeze brushing against her skin like a welcome touch. Stars blinked h

her arms aro

he really

new she had wanted closure. She had wanted to see if th

might fin

made her

ttoned, his tie loosened. He looked slightly more human, slightly

," she said, tryin

ds tucked in his pockets. "You

caped her. "Stil

ber ever

this time more fragile,

goodbye?" His voice was soft but c

I was scared. Because I knew i

ked away toward the gardens

ke min

ng between them,

ed. "So many times. But I convinced my

admitted. "F

lump in her th

Eventually, you j

im. "Do you still

d his eyes. "I don't know. But seeing you tonight

fled but beautiful. Ava's hea

n't come here

inning of something sh

t

s, just ma