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Remy cheers, clapping her hands. “That’s the spirit! Go get her!”

Zane groans, rubbing a hand over his face. “You’re really going to let her talk you into this?”

“She’s not wrong,” I admit. “I can’t keep doing this shit.”

He sighs, shaking his head. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Remy grins, leaning over to kiss Zane’s cheek. “See? You’re not so bad.”

“Be quiet,” he mutters, but he’s smiling.

I stand, grabbing my jacket. “Alright, I’m out. Wish me luck.”

“Bring her back!” Remy calls after me, her voice bright and teasing.

As I walk out of the bar, I can’t help but smile. For the first time in weeks, I’ve got a plan.

The flight feels like it takes forever. It’s one of those long-haul flights where time doesn’t exist, where I’m stuck between trying to sleep and staring at the seat in front of me, thinking about how many times I’ve fucked things up with her.

The plane touches down in London, and I grab my phone, immediately seeing the flood of messages from Coach. I don’t even bother opening them. I’m not in the mood for his “you should’ve been at practice” bullshit. Not now. Not when I’ve finally made it here, not when Maya is just a few streets away.

I step off the plane, my mind still racing. My palms are sweaty, my heart beats a little faster than usual. It’s not the flight. It’s not the pressure from my coach. It’s the thought of seeing her again. After all this time.

It’s been too long.

I grab my bag, make my way out of the airport, and hail a cab. The city buzzes around me. London is everything it’s cracked up to be. But I d0n’t care much about the city, not when I’m just moments away from seeing Maya.

The ride to her place is short, and I feel every second of it. My fingers are tapping on the seat, my head’s spinning with all the things I want to say but don’t know how to say.

When the cab finally stops outside her building, I pay the driver, step out, and walk up to the door. I hesitate for a second, looking at the old, familiar door. Everything’s changed, and yet nothing has.

I ring the bell. The sound of the doorbell is so loud in the quiet hallway, it makes my chest tighten.

The door opens, and there she is. Maya.

I’m hit by that rush of warmth, the way she always looks at me, the way she always had this way of making everything feel right. Her hair is down, falling over her shoulders in soft waves. She’s wearing a simple white shirt and black leggings, the kind of casual look she always rocked effortlessly. But it’s her, the way her eyes light up when she sees me, that kills me. That’s the moment I know everything I’ve been holding back, everything I’ve been trying to ignore, is right in front of me.

“Caleb?” Her voice cracks, just a little, like she’s still trying to process what’s happening.

I don’t wait. I step forward, pull her to me, and lift her off the ground. She lets out a surprised laugh, wrapping her arms around my neck as I carry her into the apartment.

“I missed you,” she says, her voice soft, full of emotion.

“I missed you too, baby.” The words slip out of me before I can think twice. I haven’t said them in so long, but now that I’ve said it, it feels real. Too real.

She gasps as I press my lips against her neck, tasting her skin. “It’s driving me insane,” I growl, feeling every part of me aching for her. “I’ve been thinking about you every damn day.”

Before she can say anything else, I push her gently onto the bed. She’s still looking at me, eyes wide, mouth slightly parted, as I stand over her.

“What are you doing?” she asks, her voice low but teasing.

I don’t answer her with words. Instead, I drop to my knees, pushing her legs apart gently. The heat between us is immediate, sharp. My body aches for her.

She moans softly, her hands gripping my hair as I move lower.

I bury my face between her thighs, my hands grabbing at the fabric of her leggings, pushing them down.

She gasps, and I can’t help but smile.