Page 4 of Unwrapped

But as I close the yearbook, I catch one last glimpse of his smile, and my heart does that same stupid little somersault it did all those years ago.

Some things never change.

I tuck the yearbook away, forcing myself to focus on gathering the documents I actually need for tomorrow. But that familiar ache lingers in my chest - the one that whispers of missed chances and what-ifs. Tomorrow, I'll be professional. Calm. Collected.

Tonight though, just for a moment, I let myself remember the girl who used to dream about the boy with the heart-stopping smile.

Who knew I'd end up right back where I started - hoping Asher Mercer might finally see me?

Chapter 2

Asher

“Are you going to that party at Tilt?”

I squint, staring at the cars that look like toys on the street down below. When I don’t hear an answer, I look back over my shoulder, my brother completely oblivious to my question.

“Guess not,” I mutter to myself, turning my attention back to the view from the window.

My office overlooks the city, the snow-covered Chicago skyline stretching out like a picture-perfect postcard. The afternoon sun reflects off the glassy buildings, casting everything in a soft, wintry glow. Normally, I’d lose myself in the view, but today, my mind keeps wandering back to the message I got earlier.

Tessa Marlow, of all people. Her cherubic face pops into my head, all my memories of her still from high school. It’s been years since I saw her last, but apparently, she and lifelong friend Ivy Calloway, are opening a bakery and looking for my advice.

It’s been a while since I thought about those days. Tessa was always sweet and friendly, the kind of person who had a kind word for everyone, even a guy like me who didn’t always deserveit. I find myself wondering what she’s been up to since then, how life has treated her.

I glance back over at my brother, Zane, who’s pacing around my office with a stack of notes in his hand, looking like he’s about to wear a groove into the floor. I chuckle, memories of him trying to pretend he wasn’t checking Tessa out when she was round popping in my head.

“Hey, guess who reached out to me?”

He barely looks up, focused on whatever calculations he’s running through in his head. “Who?”

“Tessa Marlow. She wants to catch up and talk about a new business she’s starting with her friend.” He stops in his tracks, his movements pausing at the mention of her. A name I’m sure he hasn’t heard for almost ten years—one that I know brings a rush of memories back to him, even if he’ll never admit it.

Zane snorts, finally looking my way. “Old high school buddy, huh? What’s she need—investment advice? Or just hoping to rub shoulders with the Mercers?”

I roll my eyes at his usual cynicism. “Maybe a little bit of both. But come on, we’ve been in their shoes. It wasn’t that long ago we were hustling to get this company off the ground. Plus, she and her friend have been running a side baking business for years. I looked into it—they’ve got potential based on their strong social media presence and the extensive reports she sent over. I just have to see if the numbers are there, would love if you would go over them as well since you’re the numbers guy.”

He stops his pacing, leaning against my desk, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “Her friend… Ivy, right? The quiet one?” He asks, completely ignoring my other comment.

I shrug, keeping my expression neutral even though the mention of her name sends a jolt through me. “Yeah, I think so. Why?”

Zane raises an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “No reason. Just curious.”

I shake my head, but my mind drifts back to Ivy anyway. Back in high school, she was different—edgy, smart, and focused on things far outside the football field social circle I ruled. While I was busy with practices, parties, and being crowned prom king, she was buried in books, lost in her own world. We barely interacted, but I always noticed her. She was the kind of girl you noticed, even if she never realized it.

She had this way of moving through the halls, head down, a look of determination on her face like she had more important things on her mind than high school drama. She didn’t care about fitting in or being liked, and maybe that’s what intrigued me. I admired that about her—maybe even envied it a little. She had this quiet,I don’t give a fuck about youropinion way about her. But back then, I was too caught up in my own image to do anything about it.

Zane watches me for a moment longer, his gaze too knowing for my liking. I clear my throat, pulling my thoughts back to the present. “Anyway, I told Tessa we could meet tomorrow afternoon.”

“Kind of fucked up to be thinking about a girl you went to high school with at your age.”

“Jesus.” I roll my eyes, his boisterous laugh echoing around us. “You’re fucked up, you know that? I was just remembering what she looked like; the only memory I have of her is from high school.”

“Still trying to get the nerve up to talk to her?”

“Why doyouremember her name? You’re the older brother; you were barely even around when we were in high school,” I remind him, the only time we ever really crossed paths as students together in high school was the off chance we bumpedinto each other in the hallway when he bothered showing up, or the few times Mom made him give me a ride.

“We both know why I remember her—” He smirks and for a second, I think he’s going to say something about his not-so-secretive crush on Tessa. “Ivy was the one girl who scared you growing up.”

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