Rachel’s breath caught at the touch, the warmth of Elise’s fingers igniting something she had tried to suppress. She turned her hand over, their palms meeting in a tentative yet deliberate gesture.
“Elise,” Rachel began, her voice trembling slightly. “I’ve thought about you every day since that night. But I didn’t want to drag you into my chaos. My life isn’t... simple.”
“I don’t need simple,” Elise said firmly. “I need real.”
For the first time in months, Rachel allowed herself to smile—a small, hesitant curve of her lips that held more promise than any words could.
“What are you doing tonight?” Rachel asked, her tone lighter, almost playful.
Elise’s lips quirked into a smile of her own. “Why don’t you tell me?”
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