Page 119 of If We Meet Again

“Not that home, stupid.”

“New York?”

Megan nodded. “I got an offer from New York Liberty.”

“The WNBA?” Ashley froze in place, becoming suddenly aware of her own heartbeat.

“Yes.”

“So, you’re coming back to New York? For good?”

Megan leaned into the conversation. One arm hugged her body, the other held the champagne glass lightly with the tips of her fingers. Their gaze didn’t break once.“I hope so.”

***

Michael’s speech was a heart-warming encounter of the first time he’d seen Nancy and Christopher together. In his words,it all made sense after that, the world had brought back together two people meant forone another.

The guests raised a glass to the happy couple and then Michael introduced Ashley. “Next, we have Ashley. Many of you will remember the beautiful words she wrote about my mom and Christopher inThe New York Timesnewspaper article, and that’s how their relationship started. Since then, she has become a big part of their life and an extended member of our family. Come up here, Ashley.”

Michael had a sweet smile. She could tell he was a kind man. He passed her the microphone and whispered, “It’s nice to finally meet you. Don’t show me up, will you?” He winked and walked off stage to join Meganand her mom.

If there was ever a time Ashley wanted the room to swallow her whole, it was now. The nerves reminded her of the first time she’d pitched her idea to a room full of editors. The same nauseating feeling ate her up inside. The microphone felt sticky in her hand; her palms were sweaty. Forty people stared her way, expecting words that would evoke unimaginable emotion.

Except in that moment, the crowd of people didn’t matter. She looked out and saw Madison, the girl she loved, her best friend, her confidant and the keeper of secrets, stood proudly admiring her from afar. Ashley glanced in the other direction. To the left of the room stood Megan, who smiled reassuringly.

Suddenly, she had a moment of striking realisation—a true moment of clarity. Just before the point of no return, she realised she’d been incredibly naive. Firstly, to think that she had everything under control, and secondly, in thinking that the speech she was about to make wasn’t someway, somehow connected to Megan.

She loved her. In what capacity, she didn’t understand, but she loved her without knowing how or when it happened. She had been out of sight and out of mind (to a degree) for three years and now she was back—for good. The feelings Ashley tried to bury time and time again rose to the surface revealing her vulnerability. Megan’s eyes watched intently; herbrow raised.

There was no time to dwell on the unknown, the guests had settled to complete silence as the final glass clinked.

Ashley raised the microphone to her lips, a little voice in her mind said,here goes nothing.

Sometimes in life, there are significant moments of clarity. A realisation that someone or something was always meant for you…