We round the corner into the main ballroom where my downfall began at the end of last summer.The irony of being back in the place that started the spiral is comical once again.My heart starts to race, memories start to flood back and for a second I forget how to breathe and that's when I see her.
The world doesn't just stop—it corrects itself.Like everything that's been slightly off-kilter suddenly clicks into place.She's wearing a dress that's the color of deep sage, and when our eyes meet across the room, now I really forget how to breathe.
She looks ethereal, that's the only word for it.
The dress hugs her body like water, like my hands did that night when she let me worship every inch of her skin.Her hair catches the light from the chandeliers, and when she smiles—Christ, when she smiles, it's like the sun coming up after the longest night of my life.
I start walking toward her without conscious thought, my feet carrying me across the polished floor like I'm being pulled by gravity.People are talking around us, the party continuing in its bubble of champagne and small talk, but none of it matters.
None of it exists.
"Hi," I say quietly when I reach her, and my voice sounds rough even to my own ears.
"Hi," she whispers back."You came."
"I did."
She smiles and it’s like she's rewiring my entire nervous system just by existing in the same space."I thought you weren't coming back."
"Told you," I say, my voice soft but carrying perfectly in the space between us, "never a goodbye.Just see you soon."
I'm about to kiss her—right here in front of everyone, consequences be fucking damned—when arms wrap around me from behind in a bear hug that lifts me off the ground.
"Holy shit, you’re fucking back!"
Of course it's Jay.
I turn in his grip, laughing despite myself, and hug him back.
"Jesus, have you been working out?"
"Someone had to keep Sonder running while you were off finding yourself in the hills of Europe," he grins, but there's genuine emotion in his eyes before it turns to concern.“Shit, I just interrupted a moment, didn’t I?”
“It’s okay.”Nora says with a smirk.
I’ll be sure to make up for the interruption later.
"I don’t want to be all sappy and shit, but I missed you, brother."
The word hit a soft spot.Brother.Not by blood, not by law, but by choice.
"Missed you too man," I say, and mean it.
"Oh, see now the band really is back together!"
I turn to see Ollie, Mia, and Camilla approaching, their faces bright with genuine happiness.Ollie claps me on the back while Mia goes straight for a hug, and Camilla just grins at me like she knows secrets I don’t want her to know.
"Welcome home, stranger," Ollie says.
"It’s nice to be back," I admit, glancing at Nora, who's watching this reunion with soft eyes.
As I look around at their faces—Jay with his easy grin, Ollie with his steady presence, Mia with her quiet strength, Camilla with her fierce loyalty—something clicks into place.
These people, standing here in their fancy clothes at this ridiculous party, they're the ones who never gave up on me.Not when I was at my worst, not when I gave them every reason to walk away.The realization flashes like a neon sign in front of me: most of the people who actually gave a shit about me aren't blood.
They're chosen family, the kind you find when you're broken and they help you find the pieces so you, yourself can put the pieces back together.
But even as I'm surrounded by warmth and laughter, I can feel eyes on me from across the room.I look up to see Jake standing near the bar, a rocks glass in his hand that definitely doesn't contain Coke.His eyes burn into me with an intensity that makes my chest tight.
