Jaze’s POV
The café door creaked open, and before I could even take another sip of air, Zoe was standing in front of me.
“How are you? It’s been so long since I last saw you.” She stepped closer, and my heart raced uncontrollably.
“I’m fine. How about you? When did you come back?” I tried to keep my voice steady, fighting the awkwardness clawing at me.
“I’m doing fine too. I just arrived today. I was about to grab some coffee when I saw you.” Her eyes sparkled with happiness, and for a moment, I almost forgot the years between us.
“I see. Let me get you a coffee.” I escaped to the counter, needing space to breathe.
“One affogato, please,” I ordered.
“You still remember,” she said softly, suddenly beside me. “I thought you’d forgotten.”
“Of course not. We’re friends—how could I forget?” I smiled, though the word friends felt heavier than it should.
“I miss you, Jaze. I mean it.”
Her words cut deeper than she knew. How could she say that after leaving without a goodbye?
“Why don’t we sit while waiting for your coffee?” I suggested quickly, steering the conversation away.
She glanced toward Nick. “Is it okay? I saw you were with someone.”
“Oh, right.” I’d almost forgotten. “It’s fine. I’ll introduce you.”
We walked back. “Dude, this is Zoe. Zoe, this is Nick.”
Nick blinked in surprise but recovered quickly. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same. Are you two friends?” she asked.
“You could say that,” Nick replied.
“Why don’t you sit down first?” I pulled out a chair for her.
“Thank you.”
Nick’s phone buzzed. “I need to go—something came up.” He smiled at me.
“Sure. Let’s hang out some other time,” Zoe said.
“That would be great. Nice meeting you again.” Nick left, and Zoe turned to me.
“You’ve got a new friend, huh?”
“Well, yeah.”
The barista called out, “Number twenty-six!”
“That’s us. Wait here, I’ll get it.” I handed her the cup.
“Thank you. How about you? Aren’t you having coffee?”
“I don’t drink coffee anymore.”
Her brows furrowed. “That’s sudden. You used to love it.”
“People change. Sometimes we have to let go of what we love to find something better.”
“But if you love it, why give it up?” She smiled.
“Because it’s not worth it.” My eyes lingered on her.
“Okay, don’t be too serious.” She laughed lightly.
“So… how long will you stay?” I asked.
“I’ll stay for good. My father wants us to be complete again.”
My chest tightened. “That means Davin is coming back too?”
“Yeah. I think he’s already here.”
Panic surged. This is bad for Rane.
“Sorry, I need to go.” I stood abruptly.
“Is something wrong?”
“Nothing. I just remembered I have work.”
“I see. Well, call me when you’re free. I’ll treat you and your friend.”
“Sure.” I left quickly, dialing Rane’s number. No answer. My car roared to life as I tracked her location. She was at the park.
When I arrived, I froze. Davin was already there, pushing her wheelchair. I was too late.
Rane’s POV
The park was alive with children’s laughter, the breeze cool against my skin. It had been too long since I’d felt this kind of peace. Fritt had left to lock his room, forgetting again, but I didn’t mind.
My phone buzzed—Jaze’s name lit the screen. Before I could answer, a shadow fell across me.
“Hi,” Davin said, smiling.
The words slipped out before I could stop them. “Davin… what are you doing here?”
“Really? That’s the first thing you’ll say to me?”
A thousand thoughts screamed inside me. How are you? Are you happy? Are you staying for good? Why did you leave me? But none of them made it out.
“Rane? Are you okay?” He waved a hand in front of me.
“Sorry. My mind wandered. When did you come back?”
“Yesterday. I wanted to call you, but there was an emergency.”
“I see. But why are you here? Someone might recognize you—it’s not safe.”
“It’s fine. No one will recognize me. It’s been years.”
“Still, it’s dangerous.”
His eyes softened. “What happened to you? Why are you in a wheelchair?”
“Let’s go somewhere safer before I answer that.”
“Sure.” He pushed me gently until we found a quiet spot.
“I had an accident. I fell.”
“You should be careful. I hate seeing you like this.”
Anger flared. “Then you shouldn’t have left.”
His grip tightened on my hands. “Are you still mad at me?”
“Yes. I’m mad you left without a word. I’m mad that even after all these years, I still worry about you.” Tears spilled before I could stop them.
He pulled me into his arms. “Shh. I’m sorry for leaving. I’ll make it up to you.” His hand stroked my hair, steadying me.
“From now on, don’t cry. I’ll do my best to make you happy.”
“Are you staying for good?” I asked, wiping my face.
“Yes. It’s time to settle here and help my brother at the palace.”
That meant I’d see him every day.
“Good for you. Your family will be complete again.”
“Yeah. It’s time to face our responsibilities.”
“The Queen will be glad to see you.”
He smiled. “I should take you home. It’s late.”
I checked my phone—thirty missed calls from Fritt. My stomach dropped.
“No, I’ll wait for him.”
“I insist. Tell him to meet us at the gate.”
I sighed. “Okay.”
The drive was quiet until he asked, “When are you free?”
“Why?”
“So I can call you.”
“Saturday.”
“Noted. I’ll make sure I’m free.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
At the gate, Fritt was waiting, arms crossed. Davin helped me out.
“Fritt, good to see you,” Davin said warmly.
“It’s been a while,” Fritt replied.
“Let’s grab a drink sometime.”
“Sure.”
Davin turned to me. “Take care.” Then he left.
Fritt frowned. “Is that why you didn’t answer my calls?”
“My phone was on silent. I didn’t hear it.”
He sighed, but let it go.
Later, in my room, I dialed Jaze.
“Hello,” he answered quickly.
“Hi. Sorry about earlier. I was busy.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“Were you going to say something?”
“No. I accidentally dialed you.”
“Oh. I thought you needed me.”
“You should rest. Good night.”
“Good night.”
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone, wishing he’d said more. We used to be so close. Now, it felt like he couldn’t even look at me the same way. I missed those days—when we shared everything, when nothing stood between us.