His expression softened in a way that was physically painful to look at.
“I looked for your name too.”
Oh God.
I wrapped my arms around myself tighter.
“We really wasted sixteen years.”
“No.”
The word came instantly.
Firm.
Certain.
I frowned slightly. “No?”
Hersh leaned against the counter, watching me carefully.
“We survived sixteen years.”
That landed hard.
Because somehow…
he was right.
Neither of us had moved on completely.
Neither of us had stopped loving the other.
And despite everything?
Some invisible thread had still led me here.
To Eagle River.
To this tavern.
To him.
The microwave beeped softly.
Hersh grabbed my mug and walked it back over to me.
Our fingers brushed again when I took it.
Neither of us reacted.
At least not outwardly.
But I felt it.
Still there.
Still us.
