ived the fir

she th

sations about careers, babies, and summer vacations. Anything to distract her from him-the man who

te was

c melody and the emcee called for all couples to

! Et

pagne glass freezing

usband, completely oblivious to the silent

d dance! For o

o, no

o make some excuse, but before she

" he said, his voice calm. But his eyes

throat. Dancing with Ethan was a mista

l logic, she slippe

rm and warm, sending a shock of fa

her choice, he pulled h

ath hitched. The warmth of his palm burned through the fa

he music wrapping aro

of the

under. She remembered the countless nights they had spent dancing under t

s a differe

ore she had br

e when you're nervous," Ethan

apped up. "I'

into a slight

mistake. Because up close, his dark eyes held a storm of

ome back to Maplewood,"

I would either

, here y

"It's just for the wedding,

ion, gone too quickly for her to r

ted in her chest.

so slightly. "If that help

"You don't ge

his jaw clenching. "No. But

tated. "

ghtly, his breath w

d you l

ng the air between them, suffocating her. Her throat tightened, and for a mome

d she explain? How could she tell him the real reason,

t. She closed her eyes briefly, gathering herself. Ethan was waiting, his eyes

the song ended, breaking the

. Ava stepped back, her heart hammering. She couldn't do this-not her

e stammered, her voice

word, she turned

ai

urgently against the floor. The cool night air hit her like a wave, but it did little t

different? That she could pretend the past didn't e

could anchor her to the present, to reality. The lights from the ballr

It had never stop

t run for

ike he had just stepped out of a dream. His hair was tousled, his suit jacket unbut

, more firmly this time, th

ance between them. "Then why are you still

er, to make him understand, but the words were trappe

ou didn't give me a choice. And now you show up he

he whispered, the raw truth slipping f

softened, but onl

use I couldn't bear to se

s a flicker of something in his eyes-so

" he said quietly. "I'v

a wave, crashing over her with the

Ava allowed herself to believe that may