Whispers Of The Hearts

reath caught in her throat the moment their eyes met. It was as though the years had evaporated, and in an instant, she was back in high school, looking at the

you're both a little out of practice in the small-town social scene, so I'm here to help you out. E

a beat too long, and she could feel every second. His gaze was familiar, but this time, it wasn't filled

o see you back in town." He shifted slightly, standing a bit straighter, his eyes scan

Charlotte could hear the underlying que

felt like more of a formality than anything sincere. "It's been a

mething uncertain about it. He seemed to be weighi

ack." Ethan's voice had an edge, but his eyes

surrendering to everything she had left behind. Ethan, of all people, knew that. He had known the reasons, the fears that had driven her aw

her smile not quite as bright as it had been a moment ago. "You tw

wasn't wrong. Ethan and Charlotte had been inseparable once, until their teenage drea

k then," Charlotte replied coolly, wi

ed, but he recovered quick

t you two catch up, but I have a million wedding details to attend to. It's all about to hit

g around them. She tried to fight the unease that curled in her chest, but it was difficult when Ethan wa

reaking the silence. He stepped back, giving her a little

han Cooper had been a part of her past, but that didn't mean it was easy to face him now. The hurt, th

te said, a bit more defensively than she int

gaze shifted to the crowd, the tension between them palpable. He cleared his th

ng. "I'm doing alright," she replied, keeping her tone neutral

they'd spoken, everything had ended in chaos. Ethan had chosen his career, his plans, over their future together

ing the silence with an unexpected comment. "You're... you'

lotte felt a pang of something-was it gratitude?

past, and the bitterness she had kept buried for so long resurfaced. She had worked so hard to get to whe

"I didn't come back for anything other than Sophie's wedding. So... l

composed. "I'm not trying to pretend anything, Charlotte. I know we di

. She had wanted him to fight for her-to show her that they could have a future. But when he had walked away, she h

her voice colder now. "But I'm not that same person anymore.

lowly, as if accepting her words. "Fair enough. I didn't mean to stir up old

here. Too much time had passed, and too many things had happened. She had moved on-she had to have. But even as she told

a forced smile, "I should probably go check in on

eyes-something she couldn't quite place. "Sur

Each step felt heavier than the last, as though the weight of their shared histo

encounter with Ethan was far from over. Whether she was ready to face it or not, there was something betw

t. Tonight was

the wedding without letting the ghos