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"Marisa, you really need to figure things out," Harreld said, pulling me closer. "You can’t keep bouncing between him and me. It’s not fair."

I sighed, feeling the weight of his words. "I know, but it’s complicated. I can’t just turn off my feelings."

His gaze softened. "Then let’s make it less complicated. What if we just focus on us, at least for now?"

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You think that’s possible?"

"Why not? Let’s explore what we have before worrying about the rest," he replied, determination in his eyes.

I nodded slowly, a sense of hope sparking within me. "Okay, but you have to promise to be honest. I can’t handle any more secrets."

He smiled, a warmth radiating from him. "I promise, Marisa. We’ll navigate this together."

"Together," I echoed, feeling the tension ease a bit. "But you know my past is messy, right?"

Harreld leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "I’m not afraid of a little mess. I want to understand you, all of you."

I bit my lip, weighing his words. "It won’t be easy. Claymon isn’t just going to let go."

"Let him try," he said, confidence radiating from him. "You deserve someone who truly cares."

I couldn’t help but smile at his conviction. "Alright, but we need to set some ground rules. No more misunderstandings."

He chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Deal. But you have to promise to be open with me too."

"That’s fair," I replied, my heart racing. "So, what’s the first step?"

"Let’s start by getting to know each other again. No distractions," he suggested, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Sounds good. What do you want to know?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

He grinned. "What’s your favorite thing about yourself?"

I hesitated, surprised by the question. "I... I guess I’m resilient. I keep pushing forward."

"That’s perfect," he said, nodding. "And I admire that about you."

Feeling a warmth spread through me, I realized maybe this time, things could be different.

"Thanks," I said, a shy smile creeping onto my face. "What about you? What do you like about yourself?"

Harreld thought for a moment. "I’d say my loyalty. Once I care about someone, I’m all in."

"That’s a solid trait," I replied, feeling a sense of security in his words. "But loyalty can also lead to pain."

"True," he acknowledged, his expression turning serious. "But I won’t let that stop me from being there for you."

"Alright, then," I said, feeling emboldened. "Let’s see where this goes."

He reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers. "We’ll take it one day at a time. No pressure."

I nodded, appreciating his calm approach. "And no more club nights without letting each other know."

"Agreed," he said with a smirk. "You’re not allowed to get lost in the chaos without me."

I laughed softly. "Okay, but if you keep being this sweet, I might get used to it."

"Good," he replied, his gaze intense. "I want you to."

As the music pulsed around us, I felt a newfound sense of hope. Maybe we could carve out a different future, one where we both found the love we needed.

"Good," he replied, his gaze intense. "I want you to."

As the music pulsed around us, I felt a newfound sense of hope. Maybe we could carve out a different future, one where we both found the love we needed.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Harreld asked, pulling me closer, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.

I pondered for a moment. "Maybe we could grab some food? I’m starving after all that drama."

"Food it is," he said with a grin, guiding me out of the club and into the cool night air. The city lights shimmered around us, illuminating the streets as we walked side by side.

We strolled toward a nearby diner, the neon sign flickering above us. "This place is a classic," he said, holding the door open for me. "Best burgers in town."

I laughed as we settled into a booth. "You really know how to treat a girl, don’t you?"

"Only the best for you," he said, his smile genuine. "So, tell me more about you. What do you do when you’re not dealing with ex-husbands and club drama?"

I took a sip of my water, gathering my thoughts. "Well, I work in marketing. It’s creative, but it can get pretty hectic. I enjoy the challenge, though."

"Sounds exciting," he said, leaning forward. "What do you love most about it?"

"I love coming up with new ideas and strategies," I replied, my passion evident in my voice. "There’s something satisfying about seeing a campaign come together."

"I can see that," he said, nodding appreciatively. "What’s the craziest campaign you’ve ever worked on?"

I chuckled, recalling a particularly wild project. "Oh, there was this one time we decided to launch a product with a flash mob. It was chaotic but so much fun. We ended up going viral."

Harreld laughed, clearly entertained. "That sounds incredible! I would have loved to see that."

As we chatted, the initial tension between us began to fade, replaced by an easy camaraderie. I found myself relaxing, enjoying his company more than I had anticipated.

"Okay, your turn," I said, leaning back and crossing my arms. "What do you do outside of being... well, you?"

He smirked, clearly amused by my phrasing. "Fair enough. I work in finance, which sounds boring, but I actually love numbers. It’s like solving puzzles."

"Really? You enjoy that?" I asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Yeah," he said, his eyes lighting up. "There’s something satisfying about finding the right solution, especially when it helps people."

"Now that’s admirable," I replied, impressed. "You seem to have a knack for helping others."

He shrugged, a hint of modesty in his smile. "I try. But honestly, it’s just a job for me. What I really want is to make a difference."

I felt a surge of admiration for him. "You’re a good guy, Harreld."

"Thanks, Marisa," he said, his tone serious for a moment. "I’m just trying to be better. For myself and for you."

My heart fluttered at his sincerity. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated, then continued. "I’ve made mistakes too. I’ve been selfish in the past. But with you, I want to be different. I want to be someone you can rely on."

The weight of his words hung in the air between us, and I could sense the shift in our dynamic. "You are someone I can rely on," I said softly, meeting his gaze.

He reached across the table, his hand covering mine. "I’m here, Marisa. No matter what happens with Claymon or the divorce, I’m not going anywhere."

A rush of warmth spread through me at his declaration. "That means a lot."

Just then, our food arrived, breaking the moment. We dug into our burgers, the conversation flowing easily again. I noticed the way he watched me as I spoke, the way his laughter came easily, and it made my heart race.

"So, what’s your plan with the divorce?" he asked, wiping ketchup from his mouth.

I sighed, the weight of my situation pressing down on me. "I need to get through it as quickly as possible. I don’t want to dwell on it anymore."

"Do you think he’ll make it difficult?" Harreld asked, concern etched on his face.

"I’m sure he will," I replied, frustration creeping into my voice. "He likes to play games, and I’m tired of being part of his."

Harreld’s expression turned serious. "If he bothers you, just let me know. I’ll handle it."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by his intensity. "You’d really do that for me?"

"Absolutely," he said, his voice steady. "You don’t have to face him alone. Not anymore."

A surge of gratitude filled me. "Thank you. I just want to be free of all this."

"Then let’s make that happen," he said, squeezing my hand reassuringly. "Together."

I nodded, a mix of relief and hope swelling within me. Maybe with Harreld by my side, I could finally break free from the past and start anew.