Page 71

Maryville Ristorante.
I stare as Bryan parks, the warm glow of twinkling lights spilling out from the rustic, charming place that had once been our dream date spot when we were kids. Back then, it had been just a fantasy, a place we imagined going to someday. And now, we’re here.
I turn to Bryan, stunned. “You remembered this too?” His expression softens. “Of course, I did.”
I don’t know what to say to that. Because it means something. It means a lot. That after all these years, through everything, he still remembers literally everything. It is like I never left.
The restaurant is cozy, intimate. A checkered tablecloth stretches across our candlelit table, soft music drifting through the air. Wine glows in delicate glasses, the flickering candlelight catching in Bryan’s green eyes as he watches me from across the table.
It feels easy. Natural. Dangerously right.
We talk about the renovations, the clinic, Buddy’s latest antics. And then, somewhere between the laughter and the wine, the conversation shifts.
Bryan lifts his glass, eyes warm, steady. “To us.”
The words send a shiver down my spine. I hesitate before lifting mine, my voice barely above a whisper. “To us.” The glasses clink, the sound small, but in this moment, it feels deafening.
Then, before I can think too hard, before I can let the fear creep in, I speak. “I used to wonder, you know. What we would have been. If I had stayed.”
Bryan watches me carefully. He sets his glass down, fingers grazing the stem in thoughtful silence. Then, he nods. “Me too. Every day.”
My heart twists.Every day?“But I’m glad we have this now,” I add. “Glad we’re getting a second chance.”
He only smiles in response. I wonder if it's all in my head that we are starting something again. I exhale, my pulse thudding in my ears. Because this moment, this night it’s feels right and that's all that matters.
Our hands brush on the table. The touch lingers. And for the first time, I let it. There is nothing better than enjoying the moment. Bryan makes sure of that.
Chapter twenty-two
Bryan
The morning light spills through the kitchen window, stretching across the counter like liquid gold. The coffee machine hums, filling the air with its familiar scent, and Buddy’s tail windmills against the floor as he watches me with expectant eyes.
I barely register any of it. Because right now, all I can think about is the small velvet box burning a hole in my pocket.
I turn it over between my fingers, my pulse ticking up a notch. It’s not an extravagant gift, nothing flashy or overdone. Just something that reminded me of her.
A silver necklace. A daisy pendant. Our flower.
I exhale, bracing myself as I hear her footsteps padding down the stairs. A second later, Emma appears in the doorway, stretching with a yawn, still sleepy, still stunning. Her sweater hangs off one shoulder, hair loose from sleep, and she rubs at her eyes before giving me a soft, sleepy smile.
“Morning.”
Her voice is hushed, familiar. A warmth spreads through my chest, something unshakable, something I don’t want to lose.
She moves toward the counter, reaching for a mug, when I catch her wrist gently, stopping her. “Hold up. Got something for you.”
Emma blinks, then tilts her head, curious. “More?” I nod, pulling out the small box and placing it in her palm. She stares at it for a second, as if trying to process the weight of it. Then, carefully, she lifts the lid.
Her breath catches. “Oh, Bryan…”
It’s barely above a whisper, but it hits me hard. She brushes her fingers over the pendant, the delicate silver daisy resting against the velvet. Something flickers in her expression, something soft, something raw.
Emma exhales a small, shaky laugh, then meets my gaze. Her eyes shine, bright and warm, pulling me in like they always do. She turns slightly, gathering her hair over one shoulder, an unspoken invitation.
I step behind her, undoing the clasp. My fingers graze her neck as I fasten it, and the moment stretches, too close, too much. Her breath shudders, just a little, as the metal settles against her collarbone.
She touches it gently. “It’s beautiful.” I clear my throat, stepping back, suddenly feeling way too exposed. “Thought you’d like it.”