You throw your head back and pour the last drop of beer down your throat. You can still think straight, so you flag down the bartender and silently ask for another. He complies. You wait impatiently as the amber liquid slowly fills the mug.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs07H06ez2
“On me,” says a stranger from behind you, and a pale hand slides forward a bill to cover the cost of the drink. Though you’re not in the mood to entertain suitors, you certainly won’t say no to a free drink.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMiqHhRDnB
You turn to the stranger to thank him dispassionately, but when you see his face, you freeze. “Alan?” you breathe in disbelief. But you don’t need to ask. You already know it’s him. The sharp planes of his face, the slight bend in his nose, the smoldering light in his eyes--not even amnesia could take these memories from you.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPiy8sd8FG
Instantly, you are on your guard. Though you can’t forget him, you also can’t forget the way things ended. The regret still sears through your dreams, chasing you relentlessly even as you try to run.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf55AhYoSj7
Alan smiles softly, apologetically. His eyes dart away. All these years later, you still remember this small nervous gesture of his, and it’s all you can do to restrain yourself from embracing him in a comforting hug. “Long time,” he says finally, and you nearly laugh at how much of an understatement that is.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh8Cnb24rL
“Well,” you begin, and leave it at that. This isn’t a time to reopen old wounds--not when they’ve finally begun to heal.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJdhW6g8bA
You both sit in silence for several minutes. Your beer generates condensation beside your hand, forgotten in favor of relearning the subtleties of Alan’s face. 752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0QQAzjf4A
“Look, would you--”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmd0w9Z6cY
“Jace, can I--”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83fODd41sf
You both stop, embarrassed and more than a little flustered. You gesture for him to continue.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq0sIRKFqN
“Jace,” he starts again. He inhales deeply and closes his eyes. You don’t prod, but you silently scream at him to keep talking. “Jace, I know things didn’t work out, back then. But I know you wanted them to, and I did, too. It just...it wasn’t the right time.” He stops, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to continue.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSYvkdk0Kj
You’re fairly confident you know what he’s trying to say, so you help him along. “And you think this is?” It comes out colder than you intended, and you wince. But it does the job. A new fire ignites in Alan’s eyes.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOYPhyTRCY
“Why not?” he challenges. “We were good together, you know we were. Who says that’s changed? Maybe this time…” And he loses his nerve again, his eyes flitting over everything but you.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g298FEo5h
You sigh. There’s no guarantee that this’ll work out. All those years ago, it didn’t, despite all your efforts to the contrary. Who’s to say this time will be any different? You open your mouth to say no.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOE6dNgDDt
But then you reconsider. After all, there’s no guarantee this won’t work out. Maybe Alan is right; maybe it’s worth another shot. And anyway, it’s not like you’re going to go crawling back to Liam after the stunts he pulled.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fYIHOiSie
You stand up and smile. “Why the hell not?”
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