Love twist

ake Thompson was here, in Haven Cove, after all these years. Her heart raced as she to

easy laugh spilling from his lips, his eyes

tirring within her. "And you look like you just stepped off

t visiting family for the holidays. I couldn't resist sto

that lined the walls. "It's become quite the art hub. I've been t

e. "You were always so talented, Em. I remember how you used to spend ho

, a blush creeping into her cheeks.

ou've been working on." His voice was enco

she said, flipping to the page she'd begun at the café. She held her breath as he examined the drawing, hal

ured the light perfectly," he ex

e edges," she replied, modestly waving he

hang it right here for everyone to see!" He gestu

she said, returning the sketchbook to her lap. "But enough ab

. "Oh, the usual. Work, travel, the occasional adventure. I'm based in Denver now, worki

iving there?" she

this place. The ocean, the sunsets... the memories," he said, his eyes driftin

, seeking solace in the familiar sights and sounds of her youth. "I understan

ng of clinging, remember when we tried to capture that sunset on the

he conversation flowed easily, just like it had in their childhood. It felt su

this time," he said, leaning forward with cu

a change. Life in the city was suffocating. I thought maybe being back

ng. "That makes sense. This place has a spi

. They reminisced about their childhood adventures-building forts, exploring the cliffs, and their shared secret spo

d, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his tone.

***

tle of autumn leaves outside, casting a warm golden hue over their table and making everything feel almost surre

Jake said, breaking the silence. His voice was thick with

racticed a smile, trying to shake off the nerves that threatened

feared disturbing something precious. "You always had an eye for capt

d shared secrets at those very cliffs. But time had woven a distance between them, a tap

feeling tugged at the back of Emily's mind, a sense of something lurking beneath the surface of their conversation. How could eve

sperately trying to maintain the lightness of their reunio

with the place, maybe do some exploring. I forgot how beautiful it is here." He smiled,

chill. A cloaked figure passed by outside, their features obscured, and Emily felt a shive

he window. The figure had vanished into the darkness, and s

sked, his brow fur

glancing back at the window. "They look

us? You're letting your imagination run wild, Em. It's probably just s

ocean. But sometimes..." She hesitated, unsure of how to voice the nagging sensations

slightly. "Secret

last thing she wanted was to reveal too much too soon. "Y

him. "But seriously, most of the stories about this place are noth

r about the lighthouse. Tales of ships lost in the fog, ghostly figures haunting the cliffs. "Bu

e being watched. She scanned the café, noticing the other patrons engrossed in their own worlds, o

house while you're here?" she asked, a

expression thoughtful. "But I feel like I'm drawn

nostalgia washing over her. "Like when we w