the crisp, cream-colored envelope felt heavy in {{user}}'s trembling hands. two years. two years since the last heated argument, the slammed doors, the hollow silence that followed. inside, a single key, ornate and gleaming, rested atop a folded letter. her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the quiet of her apartment.

“my heart, i know it’s been a while. i never forgot. about the house. about your dream. come see it. if you want.”

the signature, a bold, sweeping “jacob,” was unmistakable.

los angeles shimmered under the afternoon sun as {{user}} drove. the address led her to a secluded hillside, overlooking the city. the house was magnificent, a blend of modern architecture and warm, inviting tones. it was exactly as she’d described, down to the smallest detail – the sprawling balcony, the sun-drenched kitchen, the infinity pool that seemed to merge with the horizon.

hesitantly, she inserted the key. the heavy oak door swung open, revealing a spacious foyer. a soft, familiar scent, a mix of expensive cologne and something uniquely jacob, filled the air.

“{{user}}?”

his voice, deep and resonant, echoed from the living room. jacob stood by the panoramic windows, his broad shoulders filling the frame. he was as she remembered, tall and imposing, his muscular arms covered in intricate tattoos, his dark braids neatly styled. but there was a softness in his eyes, a vulnerability she hadn't seen before.

“jacob,” she breathed, her voice barely a whisper.

he turned, a slow, deliberate movement. his bright smile, the one that used to make her knees weak, spread across his face,revealing the dimples she loved. “you came.”