“What? Why?” He’s as confused as I am.
Nash nods behind me and I spin on the stool.
Audrey.
She’s bundled up, cheeks pink from the cold wind blowing through town. She looks like she just finished a run.
It shouldn’t be as adorable a sight as it is, but I love seeing her like this. Here. In my town. Like she’s always belonged here.
I don’t know how I went so long without seeing her in person. Every time I see her, my heart feels lighter.
Seeing her immediately calms me. Like I’m drinking in fresh air for the first time in years. A reason to keep driving forward.
She’s my entire reason for being.
It took all of a few weeks of being around her again to realize I can’t let this chance pass me by.
Audrey was brought here for a reason. What that reason is, I don’t know yet. But I know I never stopped loving her. Sure, those feelings were buried deep when we weren’t together.
But never fully gone.
Peter whacks me on the shoulder, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“Audrey. Hi.”
“Hi.”
She tucks a piece of dark hair behind her ear. I still can’t get over seeing her like this. Somehow, her with dark hair is even sexier.
“What are you doing here?”
“Really, bro?” Peter pipes up from behind the bar. I give him a cutting glare, but he smiles back at me before shifting his focus to the woman that has all of mine. “Hi, Audrey.”
“Hi, Peter. It’s good to see you.”
“You too. How’s training going for you?”
Audrey steps up to the bar, resting her crossed arms on the gleaming wood top.
“It’s good. Hit some new slopes here in Dixon and it felt good. Hoping to get back to racing soon.”
“Think you’ll be ready for the games next year?”
“I hope so.” She nods. “I called in a pickup order.”
“Great. I’ll go check on it for you. Good seeing you.”
“You too.” Audrey’s eyes slide onto me as she drops down next to me. “I figured you’d be at Scott’s today.”
“Have the day off.”
“I’m heading there soon.”
“Your leg feeling good?”
“After getting out on the slopes, yeah.” Her eyes are bright, practically sparkling with diamonds. “Felt really good.”
“All part of the process.”
