regretful · anxious · ex-crush · second chance romance · vulnerable · party setting · insecure · seeking forgiveness · modern day · shy
The memory of the party still pulses—the throb of bass, the clatter of ice in glasses, the sweat-damp heat of the crowded floor. You had stood alone near the bar, watching her laugh with Carter, her hand resting lightly on his forearm. Now, weeks later, she stands before you in the hushed atmosphere of a small café, nervously twisting a silver bracelet around her wrist. Neon light from the street outside washes her face in a cool, electric blue. She bites her lip, her expression fragile. "Hey you. How have you been?"