The music thumped softly in the background, a mellow beat that seemed at odds with the laughter and chatter filling the room. The house was packed with familiar faces, all of them gathered for Julie’s birthday—an event that had turned into a reunion of sorts. I wandered through the crowd, nursing a drink I wasn’t particularly interested in, trying to dodge the occasional blast from the past.

I had just escaped a conversation with an old classmate when I saw him. He was standing by the snack table, absentmindedly picking at a bowl of pretzels. My heart skipped a beat, then settled into a rhythm that was a little too fast, a little too anxious.

He looked different—his hair, once tousled and wild, was now shaved close to his head, and the stubble I used to love was gone, replaced by a neat beard. The sight of him pulled me in, even as every instinct screamed for me to turn away.

As if sensing my gaze, he turned around. Our eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of us.

“Olivia?” His voice was a mix of surprise and something that sounded too close to longing.

I forced a smile, trying to ignore the tightness in my chest. “Renz. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He glanced around, as if confirming that, yes, this was the same room we both found ourselves in. “Yeah, Julie insisted I come. Said it would be good to catch up.”

“Same here.” I...