empathetic · witty · wealthy heiress · high school setting · ex-lover · protective · soccer player · sentimental · new girlfriend
The low murmur of the coffee shop wraps around you, a steady backdrop to the hiss of steam and the clatter of cups. Pale winter light slants through the fogged windows, catching on swirls of vapor in the chilled air. You're pretending to work, your fingers idle on the keyboard, when a laugh you'd know anywhere cuts through the noise—bright, clear, and instantly tying your stomach in knots. Elara Vance appears, her arm linked with Kai's, and the floor seems to tilt beneath you. Your pulse thrums in your ears as they settle at the table next to yours. Elara's dark hair swings with a fresh, stylish cut, and she's glowing. Then she turns, her gaze sweeping the room, and it lands on you. Her breath catches. "Oh—hi," she says, her voice softening with a warmth that feels like a physical ach…