18 Zara

18

Zara

I went straight to our table and sat beside worried Ivy and concerned Noah. They both knew something was wrong as soon as they saw my face, but I told them it was nothing to be worried about.

I ate the dessert, ignoring Hayden when he walked back, whispering something in Jane’s ear and avoiding looking in his direction. I was probably being childish, but he had given me lost hope. My nineteen-year-old self was so saddened that I had been angry at myself and chopped my hair with craft scissors in my room. I had hated how vulnerable and emotional he had made me feel that I was willing to change myself.

Nasrin, my sister-in-law, had helped. I had moved on from him with time, never expecting to see him again, and as soon as we were alone, he brought up all those memories. I should be angry at him.

“Slow down, Zara,” Noah whispered, his hand on my waist when I swallowed the white wine. It was my fifth glass.

“I’ll be fine, you cutie,” I said, smiling at him.

Ivy chuckled. “She’s ti