Chapter 2: Five Years, One Rainstorm

In the blink of an eye, five years went by.

Just like that.

I never thought I’d see Savannah again.

I’d convinced myself it was impossible, that our lives would never intersect again. I was wrong.

But that day, while delivering documents to a client, a sudden rainstorm trapped me at a hotel up in the Blue Ridge.

The sky opened up without warning, sheets of rain pounding the pavement. I ducked into the lobby, shaking water from my hair, clutching my briefcase like a lifeline. My shoes squelched on the tile.

And in the hotel lobby, I ran right into her.

She was standing by the window, her reflection ghosted in the glass. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming.

Outside, the wind howled and rain battered the windows. Inside, the noise faded away the instant our eyes met, five years later. My world went completely still.

Everything else dropped away—the clatter of suitcases, the hum of conversation, even the chill in the air. It was just me and Savannah, caught in a moment that felt both impossibly long and heartbreakingly short.

I recognized her instantly.

Her hair was longer now, her posture a little straighter, but she was still unmistakably Savannah. The same intensity in her eyes, the same quiet strength. She hadn’t changed. Not really.

And Chase, standing by her side.

He looked older, more confident. They stood close together, like they belonged side by side.

Five years, and they were still together.

I’d always wondered if they’d make it. Seeing them now, I had my answer.

I’d guessed it was possible, but seeing it for real, my heart still did a weird flip.

It was one thing to imagine it, another to see it up close. The ache in my chest was sharp and sudden.

I desperately hoped they wouldn’t recognize me.

I kept my head down, pretending to check my phone. I didn’t want to explain who I was, or why I looked so different.

I was a mess, while they were dressed to the nines, surrounded by a crowd of peers, looking completely at ease. I almost laughed.

My clothes were damp, my hair frizzy from the rain. They looked like they’d just stepped out of a magazine shoot, all effortless glamour and easy smiles.

We couldn’t have looked more different.

I felt like a kid again, out of place in their world. I wondered if they even noticed me.

From their conversation, it sounded like they’d come here just to have fun.

They laughed easily, trading stories with their friends. I caught snippets about hiking trails and spa treatments, things I’d never had the time or money to experience.

"What’s wrong, Savvy?" someone asked, seeing her standing still.

Her friends gathered around, concern etched on their faces. Savannah didn’t answer right away. She just kept staring at me. I looked away.

Savannah kept staring at me, her cool eyes flickering with something intense, like she was struggling to hold back strong emotions.

I saw the tension in her jaw, the way her fingers curled around the necklace at her throat. For a moment, I thought she might cry.

I pretended not to know her and walked past.

I kept my gaze fixed on the floor, willing myself to blend into the crowd. My heart hammered in my chest.

Noticing her start to move, I instinctively sped up, but in the next moment, she grabbed my wrist.

Her grip was firm, unyielding. I stopped in my tracks, the past rushing back all at once. Rain drummed against the windows, but inside, everything was quiet. I turned to face her, bracing myself for whatever came next. I was ready. Or at least, I tried to be.

"Planning to leave without a word again?"

Her voice was soft, but there was steel in it—a challenge, a plea, and something like hope all tangled together. I swallowed hard, unable to answer, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us. Some things never change.