Chapter 2: Secrets in the Rain

On the drive back, Lauren shot Evan a curious glance, the city’s lights flickering across her face as they zipped down Lake Shore Drive.

She leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the world blur by. Her voice was light, teasing, but a hint of nerves crept in.

"In TV shows, it takes, like, a whole season for people to figure out the truth, right? You didn’t even hesitate."

She grinned, side-eyeing him. "You didn’t even let me get away with it."

Evan kept his eyes on the road, fingers drumming on the steering wheel, lips pressed in a half-smile.

He shot her a glance, warmth flickering in his eyes. "You’re impossible to miss. I know all your quirks—like how you scrunch your nose when you’re nervous."

After years together, and seeing her in his dreams almost every night, recognizing her in person was instant.

He’d known her at a glance.

He shrugged, like it was obvious. "I couldn’t have missed you, even if I tried."

"I asked your name just to make you fidget, to double-check. You always mess with your hair when you’re nervous."

He chuckled, remembering her fingers tangling in her hair, tracing invisible shapes on the table.

Coincidentally, Lauren had been rubbing Charlie’s fur at the time.

He grinned. "You almost petted that poor dog bald."

All afternoon, he’d watched her—every detail confirming what he already knew in his heart.

He’d catalogued every gesture, every smile, every little quirk that made her Lauren. It all added up.

Lauren nodded, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.

She smiled, acknowledging the truth—there was no hiding from someone who knew you that well.

People who are close can’t hide from each other. Evan was right.

She thought back to all the times she’d tried to hide her feelings, only for Evan to see right through her. It was comforting and a little scary.

"What about you, Sis?"

He glanced over, his tone softening. "How’d you recognize me?"

"Me?" Lauren studied his profile. "You’ve changed a lot, but somehow you’re still exactly the same."

She traced the familiar slope of his nose, the stubborn set of his jaw. "You still have that same look in your eyes."

At a red light, Evan turned, and Lauren smiled, gentle and soft.

Their eyes met in the dashboard’s glow. For a moment, the years melted away.

He heard her voice, just as gentle as ever.

The sound of it soothed something deep inside him.

"I came back just to see you. How could I not recognize you?"

She reached over, squeezing his hand. "It’s always been you."

The early summer breeze drifted through the open window, carrying the city’s sounds—car horns, laughter, distant music—grounding them in the present.

His heart pounded, a wild feeling he hadn’t known in years.

He pressed a hand to his chest, almost surprised by the force of it. It was like his heart was trying to make up for all the years it had been numb.

"Sorry I was scared to face it. That’s why I didn’t come see you right away." Lauren’s eyes shimmered with guilt. She was afraid that by the time she finally came, Evan would be gone.

Her voice trembled, thick with regret. She looked away, blinking back tears.

"No need to apologize. I never blamed you, Sis."

He reached over, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Really. I get it."

The light turned green, traffic moving again. Evan looked away, his gaze stretching into the night.

City lights sparkled in his eyes, casting them in blue and gold. He drew a deep breath, steadying himself.

No need for apologies, no need for guilt.

He squeezed her hand, letting her know he meant it.

He’d never blamed her.

He looked at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Never."

He just missed her—so damn much.

His voice was barely audible over the hum of the car. "I just missed you."

Lauren chatted about everything and nothing, just like old times. She’d always loved sharing the little things with Evan, and he, as ever, just listened quietly.

She told him about a goofy commercial, a weird coffee flavor, a stray cat she’d befriended on her walk. He nodded in all the right places, comforted by the sound of her voice.

Maybe it was the exhaustion from the day, or maybe just being with Evan, but Lauren soon drifted off to sleep, her head resting against the window.

Evan smiled, careful not to wake her as he drove the rest of the way home.