Mia's heart pounded so hard she was sure everyone at the party could hear it. Liam's voice—so familiar, so achingly familiar—still hung in the air, a tether pulling her backward through time. She wanted to turn, to run, to throw herself into the safety of the crowd, but her feet were frozen.
Lily's hand gripped her arm gently, anchoring her for a moment. "Mia… it's okay. You've got this," she whispered.
"I…" Mia's voice faltered. Words failed her. Her mind raced, skimming over memories she had tried so hard to bury—the way Liam had made her laugh until her sides hurt, the nights they spent talking about everything and nothing, the comfort of being completely understood. And then the memory of him leaving, abruptly and without explanation, stabbed at her chest like a cold knife.
Liam's steps brought him closer, weaving through the clusters of guests as if the rest of the world had dissolved. "Mia," he said again, softer this time. "I… I never stopped thinking about you. Not for a single day."
Mia felt heat rise to her cheeks, not entirely from anger. She had never really stopped thinking about him either, and admitting that to herself—even silently—was like opening a door she had carefully locked years ago.
"Liam…" she started, her voice trembling despite herself. "You left. You… you just left, and I had to—" She broke off, unable to continue. The words she wanted to say tangled themselves in her throat.
Before Liam could respond, Ace's presence pressed at her side, sharp and insistent. His gaze was fixed on Liam, that usual smirk replaced by something harder, protective. "You don't deserve her," Ace said quietly, his voice low but carrying enough weight that both Lily and James turned to look at him.
Lily's eyes narrowed, stepping slightly in front of Mia as if to shield her. "Ace is right," she said firmly. "She's… she's better than someone who just walks away. You can't just show up and expect everything to be okay."
James crossed his arms, adding his voice to the mix. "Do you honestly think she should just forgive and forget that you left her?" His tone was sharp, protective, unwavering.
Liam looked between them, guilt flashing in his eyes, but also something softer, something vulnerable. "I know I made mistakes," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "I… I didn't know how to handle things back then. But I still care about her. I still love her."
Mia felt her chest tighten. His words, so raw and sincere, pulled at the part of her heart that still remembered him—the part that hadn't healed fully. But she also felt the tension between him and Ace, the subtle but undeniable way Ace's protective energy wrapped around her like a shield.
"I… I can forgive you," Mia said finally, her voice steadying despite the whirl of emotions inside her. "I can forgive what happened, Liam. But that's… that's all I can give you. Friends. Nothing more."
Liam's shoulders slumped slightly, but he nodded. "Friends," he repeated, swallowing hard. "I… I can do that. For now."
The four of them—Ace, Lily, James, and Liam—stared at each other in silence for a moment. The tension was electric, a thin wire stretching between every glance, every unspoken word. Mia felt it pressing against her, suffocating in the best and worst ways all at once.
"I… need some air," she said suddenly, stepping back. She didn't wait for anyone to respond, pushing past them and moving toward the edge of the garden. Her heart raced, a combination of old love, unresolved feelings, and the pull of Ace's presence she couldn't yet define.
Lily stepped beside her, silently supportive, while Ace and James exchanged a look. Ace's jaw tightened, his gaze still fixed on Liam, who looked… uncertain, unsteady, vulnerable.
Mia's fingers dug into the fabric of her dress as she walked, letting the cool night air brush against her face. She needed space, needed distance, needed a moment to think. Liam was here, yes, but she wasn't ready to let herself fall back into the past—not yet. Not while Ace, James, and even Lily were reminders that life had moved forward, even if her heart hadn't caught up entirely.
And as she paused near the edge of the garden, looking out at the soft glow of the party lights, Mia realized something terrifyingly clear:
Her heart was no longer simple. It wasn't just about Liam or the past, or about forgiving what had been lost. It was tangled with the present, with Ace, with moments she couldn't yet define, and the slow, simmering pull of something new, dangerous, and thrilling.
And as she leaned against the railing, trying to steady her racing thoughts, she knew the story was far from over.
Because Liam was back.
And Ace… Ace was waiting.
And somewhere in between, Mia had no idea what she would do next.