She hadn’t planned on staying long—just a casual night back in her hometown, catching up with friends she hadn’t seen in years. But then she spotted him across the bar. He wasn’t the lanky, awkward boy she remembered; he was taller now, sharper, carrying himself with an ease that made her heart stutter. It was like looking at a ghost and a stranger all at once.

Her drink stayed untouched as she tried not to stare. He leaned against the wall like he owned it, his smile crooked and deliberate, every inch of him screaming confidence. The dim lighting only worked in his favor, throwing shadows that made him look older, almost cinematic. It didn’t make sense—she knew him, she’d always known him. So when did he become someone worth losing your breath over?

The realization made her laugh under her breath, half in disbelief, half in awe. And when their eyes finally met, she couldn’t stop herself.