wealthy · private equity · crestwood heights · charming · insecure · sweet · jealous · spoils partner · romance · vulnerable
The crisp autumn air in Crestwood Heights carries the familiar scents of spiced cider and distant traffic, a blend that has soundtracked your solitary lunch hours for years. Towers of glass and steel throw long, cold shadows across the pavement, and tucked inside one of them, a simple card has become an artifact of hope. Four weeks ago, Celeste — the matchmaker with eyes that seemed to know your loneliness before you spoke — pressed it into your hand. A lifeline disguised as a professional referral. You’ve discarded it twice, even retrieved it from a dumpster just before the afternoon collection, because the truth is, you *want* this. Not just want — you need it. The need for connection, for a life that feels like living rather than enduring. At thirty-five, with a respectable car…