Page 40 of It's Only Ever Been You

“Well, this’ll be a good chance, right?” Jace says lightly, but there’s a note of something else inhis voice—curiosity, maybe. “It’ll be good to have everyone together again. Like old times.”

“Yeah,” I say, though the word feels heavier than it should. “Like old times.”

“Alright, man, I’ll let you go. But don’t bail, okay? I’m counting on you.”

“I’ll be there,” I promise, the words leaving a strange ache in my chest.

“Good. See you soon.”

The call ends, but I’m left staring at my phone, Jace’s words lingering.

Emma.

It’s been years since I’ve seen her in person, and just hearing her name stirs up feelings I thought I’d buried for good. Well apparently not too far after that damn dream I had. Running my hand through my hair and down my face, this wedding just got a hell of a lot more complicated.

Home.

It’s been years since I’ve set foot in that town, and part of me wonders what it’ll feel like to be back. Emma’s not there anymore—I know that much from her social media—but the idea of being in the same places we used to share still hits me harderthan I want to admit.

I finish my beer and set the bottle on the table, my thoughts drifting back to her as they always do. I tell myself it’s time to let go, to stop torturing myself with what-ifs and could-have-beens. But the thought of seeing her again—after all this time—has my chest tightening.

What if it’s awkward? What if she’s moved on completely? What if she barely even looks at me?

I close my eyes, her face flashing in my mind, and I know the truth: I’m not ready. Not for this, not for her. Not yet.

I shake off the memory, running a hand through my hair again. No matter how far I’ve come, how much I’ve achieved, it all feels empty without her.

And the worst part? Knowing I’ll see her again doesn’t bring relief. It just makes me realize how much I’ve missed her.

Chapter Fourteen

Unspoken Truths

Emma

Present Time

Sarah’s sitting cross-legged on my couch, her laptop balanced on her knees as she sifts through spreadsheets for her latest work project. She’s been at it for over an hour, her brow furrowed and lips pursed in that way they get when she’s laser-focused.

I sit across from Sarah, scrolling through my email, trying to muster the energy to deal with the flood of messages. My eyes catch on the reminder I’d set for Jace’s wedding—something I don’t actually need since I’m already part of the bridal party. I glance up at Sarah, who’s been unusually quiet, aside from the occasional frustrated sigh aimed at her laptop screen.

“You free on the 15th?” I ask casually, my tone light as I try to gauge her mood.

Sarah doesn’t look up, her fingers pausing on the keyboard. “Why? What’s happening on the 15th?”

“Jace’s wedding.”

That gets her attention. Her head snaps up, her eyes wide with surprise—or maybe something else. “Jace’s wedding?” she echoes, her voice a little higher-pitched than normal.

I nod, trying not to make a big deal of her reaction. “Yeah, it’s next month. I’ve got a plus one, and I thought maybe you’d want to come with me?”

She doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she sets her laptop aside, pulling her knees up to her chest. “You’re asking me to be your date to Jace’s wedding?”

“Well, yeah,” I say, frowning slightly. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Her gaze flickers away, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I don’t know. It’s just… weddings can be weird, you know? Especially when it’s someone you’re…” She trails off, shaking her head. “Never mind.”

I study her, my curiosity piqued. “Someone you’re… what, Sarah?”

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