Hazel sat in the corner booth of the dimly lit restaurant, her fingers nervously tapping the edge of the table. The soft murmur of other diners around her was drowned out by the pounding of her heart. She had dressed carefully for this meeting, wanting to look composed, confident—even if inside, she was anything but. Her hair was neatly styled, her makeup subtle but enough to cover the evidence of sleepless nights. Yet, no amount of preparation could calm the storm brewing within her.
She stared at the door, waiting for Ace to walk through, her emotions a tangled mess of hope and fear. She had rehearsed what she would say a hundred times, but now that the moment was almost here, her mind was blank. What would she do if he confirmed what the photo seemed to suggest? How could she handle th
