Nina The living room was alive with conversation and laughter, the walls echoing the joyous celebrations of the semester’s end. My friends, many of whom I had known since freshman year, were scattered around, some lounging on the plush couches, others congregated in animated discussions around the
Matt’s hand reached out, gripping the railing tighter. The mere mention of Tiffany’s name elicited a deep sadness, a shared grief in all of us. She had left a hole behind that could never be filled. I swallowed hard. “Then there’s Selena,” I continued, my long lost twin’s name feeling heavy on my
Enzo The ambient noise of the party surrounded me, conversations melding together into a soft hum. But as I held up my glass, ready to make my announcement, my mind started to wander to a time not too far back. I felt a lump forming in my throat, knowing how much this particular revelation would
“You’ve been distant lately,” Nina remarked, her fingers interlacing with mine, as if she was trying to physically pull me from my reverie. “It’s this coaching thing,” I admitted, my gaze fixed on the horizon. “On one hand, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But on the other…” My voice traile
The laughter and music from the party seemed distant now, a stark contrast to the piercing silence that followed Enzo’s announcement. I could feel the tension, the mix of shock and disbelief that clouded the room. “You’re… not coming back?” someone asked. Enzo shook his head. “Not to the team, n
Jessica, ever the practical one, asked, “But what about you, Nina? It’s one thing to be supportive, but what about your dreams, your ambitions? It’s not just Enzo’s journey.” I smiled, trying to mask the whirlwind of emotions threatening to surface. “It’s okay, Jess. Enzo and I are in this togethe
The sight of Matt and Enzo embracing warmed my heart. Their friendship was one of those rock-solid connections, deep and unwavering. They were more like brothers than mere friends. Standing a little way off, I took a moment to appreciate the bond they shared, and the beauty of such relationships.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, forcing a smile and gently extricating myself from Enzo’s arms. “Don’t miss me too much.” Enzo smirked. His cheeks were flushed a light shade of red from the alcohol he had been drinking, and his eyes had that look in them that screamed that he wanted me again. “Oh, I
Nina The warm summer breeze brushed across my skin as I stood on the patio, clutching my robe tightly around my body. Laughter and splashes echoed up from the pool below, where our friends were already gathered for our big end-of-summer party. I should have been down there too, soaking up the ve
“What... what do you mean?” He braced his hands on the doorframe, leaning in closer with a heavy sigh. “I mean, by the time I caught up to them this morning, I only saw them long enough to get that photo before they were boarding a speedboat and taking off. Hell, I’m still not even totally sure wh
Nina My breath caught in my throat as I pulled open the front door expecting to see excited party guests, only to be immediately met with the sight of Luke’s grim expression. His brow was furrowed in a deep frown, his lips pressed into a tight line—clear signs that something was very wrong. “Luk
Nina I huffed out a breath as I hoisted the oversized cardboard box higher in my arms, carefully navigating my way through the living room. Strings of fairy lights poked out haphazardly from the top, and I could feel the weight of glass jars and other assorted decor inside shifting precariously wi
Then, at the last possible second, the scout seemed to find an extra burst of speed. He surged forward, hurtling between two towering oak trees and vanishing into the cover of the forest beyond. “Dammit!” I slammed my palms against the rough bark of the nearest trunk, powerless to do anything but
Enzo The crunch of leaves and snap of twigs echoed through the trees as Matt and I tore after the Schreiber scout. Our breaths came in ragged gasps, the hot summer air burning our lungs. Overhead, a little red bird chirped and flitted through the green canopy of trees; Daphne. But even she wasn’
Shaking my head, I turned without another word and stormed out of the fitting room. I took the two strides across the hall to Jessica’s fitting room and knocked on the door, folding my arms across my chest. “Jess? You in there?” There was a muffled thump in the fitting room, followed by the soun
Nina “How’s it looking in there?” I called out, rapping lightly on the wooden door of Jessica’s fitting room. “Um… decent, I guess?” her muffled voice floated back a moment later, although I could sense the uncertainty in her tone. “Decent? That’s it? Come on, Jess, this is your wedding gown w
Had I really known him at all, I wondered? Or had I merely been too self-absorbed and naive to see past the facade of unshakable command he projected? After a long silence, I found my voice. “Why didn’t he ever tell me that?” “He didn’t want you to see his weakness, I suppose,” Angelica replied