Chapter 2
The rain was coming down lightly when Grace stepped out of Sunstone Airport with her suitcase.
She stood under the arrivals canopy, staring at the overcast sky, and suddenly didn't know where to go next.
Her phone buzzed.
The high school group chat had blown up. She had over a hundred unread messages. Someone had sent a photo of the airport and written, [Did I just see Grace?]
She froze for a second, trying to figure out what was happening. Then someone tagged her.
George: [Are you in Sunstone?]
She stared at his name, unsure what to say.
Two seconds later, a private message appeared.
George: [Which exit?]
She didn't reply.
Another message came through: [C1? I think I saw someone who looked like you heading that way.]
She bit her lip and typed back: [C3.]
He answered right away: [Stay there. Give me five minutes.]
Grace gripped her phone, and her heart suddenly started pounding.
Five minutes later, a guy came running up the escalator.
He had on a gray hoodie and was breathing hard, with raindrops in his hair. When he spotted her, he hesitated for a second, then walked over and stopped in front of her.
"Hi, Grace," he said.
She looked at his face, feeling a little confused.
Eleven years had passed. He was leaner, taller, and his features had sharpened. But the look in his eyes hadn't changed. Whenever he looked at her, they still lit up.
"Hi, George," she said.
George Harper nodded, took her suitcase, and said, "Come on. The car's outside."
She followed him to his car. He handed her a bottle. It was warm.
"Here," he said. "Drink some."
She took it and noticed a sticky note on the cap. Handwritten: [Hot chocolate, good for a rainy day.]
She paused and looked up at him.
He started the engine, keeping his eyes on the road. "My mom always said hot chocolate fixes everything."
She didn't know what to say.
They drove out of the airport and into the city. When they passed Sunstone High School, he slowed down.
"That pasta shop is still there," he said. "You want to grab breakfast there tomorrow?"
She looked out the window at the familiar sign, and suddenly, her eyes felt hot.
"Okay," she said.
He drove her to her house, carried her suitcase up to the door, and set it down. He didn't try to come inside.
"Get some rest," he said. "I'll pick you up at seven tomorrow morning for breakfast."
She nodded.
He turned to leave, took a few steps, and stopped.
"Grace," he said quietly.
"Yeah?"
He didn't turn around. "Whatever brought you back, welcome home."
Then he left.
She stood in the doorway, watching him disappear around the corner of the stairs.
That night, Grace lay awake in the old house she hadn't set foot in for ten years. She listened to the rain outside and didn't sleep a wink.
At two in the morning, her phone lit up.
Edward was calling.
She didn't pick up.
It rang again. Still, she didn't answer.
Then, it rang a third time. She put her phone on silent and rolled over.
Five minutes later, a message came through: [You're in Sunstone? Grace, have you lost your mind?]
She stared at the screen, wondering how he knew.
The next second, another message popped up: [I'm coming over tomorrow. Don't go anywhere.]
She looked at both messages and couldn't help laughing.
It'd been three years, and this was the first time Edward had ever volunteered to come see her.
She knew it didn't mean he cared.
It was because he couldn't stand the idea of her running off. He didn't want anyone else seeing what he thought belonged to him.
She didn't reply.
She tossed her phone aside and closed her eyes.