Chapter 2

2.

After leaving the house, I wandered aimlessly through the streets.

I bought a few beers and sat by the harbor, watching the sunset.

My phone kept buzzing with new messages.

My friends had found out about Xavier and were trying to comfort me.

"Nora, where are you? Want us to come out and grab a drink?"

"It's okay, I checked. That Macy girl is just a cheap homewrecker..."

I didn't reply. Every time I saw Xavier's name, my chest felt tight.

Fortunately, the cool breeze blowing off the water began to calm my racing heart.

I lost track of how much I drank. The sky turned dark, and the harbor lights flickered to life.

"Dammit!"

I cursed loudly, throwing my empty can into the river.

"You absolute piece of trash!"

I screamed at the water, throwing one can after another, but the weight in my chest wouldn't lift.

"Hey! You there! No littering in the river!"

A woman with a broom started charging toward me.

I scrambled to my feet and bolted.

Normally, I could have easily outrun her.

But the alcohol made my legs feel like lead, and she chased me for ten whole minutes.

After finally losing her, I slumped onto the curb, gasping for air.

I picked up my last can, which only had half a sip left, and was about to drink it.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. A deep, steady voice echoed in my ear.

I looked up. In the glow of the streetlamp, a man stood before me.

Our eyes met, and his gaze was so intense it felt like the world had stopped.

It was Brooks Harrison, our college's legendary heartthrob.

What was he doing here?

The lights traced his sharp jawline, and his short hair danced in the wind, carrying a faint scent of gardenias.

His nose twitched slightly as he smiled. "Have you been drinking?"

I coughed awkwardly, dropped the can, and stepped on it.

"No. I'm just... collecting cans for fun."

He watched me silently for a long time, then raised an eyebrow.

"Right. I was going to say, why would the famous Nora Blackwood be chased by an old lady for littering?"

Ugh.

I didn't say anything. The silence was suffocating, every second feeling like a year.

"Wait, are you blushing? What's wrong? Did the breakup get to you? You seem a bit out of it."

Brooks reached out, his long, pale fingers gently pinching my cheek. There was a faint trace of a smile in his eyes.

Maybe it was the alcohol.

Maybe it was a sudden impulse.

I grabbed his wrist and stared straight into his eyes.

"Brooks, do you want to come to my place... for a drink?"

"My cat can do a backflip."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw a flash of shock in Brooks' eyes.

Honestly.

Between adults, an invitation like that was pretty obvious.

I immediately regretted being so impulsive.

He was the guy every woman in our circle dreamed about, the ultimate golden boy.

There was no way he would agree to such a ridiculous request.

I must have been out of my mind to say something so bold.

Just as I was about to apologize, he bit his lip and whispered.

"Okay."