RUBY'S POV
The cab pulled into the city, and as the familiar skyline came into view, a tightness crept into my chest. I clutched my bag a little closer, staring out the window as the streets passed by in a blur of muted colors and ghosted memories.
I was back.
The place where everything began, where everything fell apart. The city that held every piece of me—the good, the bad, the broken.
Each corner seemed to echo with memories of smiles, laughter, and heartbreak. It felt as though the air itself weighed heavier here, thick with the past.
I blinked away the feeling and reached for my phone, dialing Liam’s number.
“Ruby,” he answered almost immediately. His voice was warm, like a balm to my frayed nerves.
“Hey. I’m here,” I said in a steady voice despite the emotions bubbling beneath the surface. “Is it still the hotel I told you about?”
“Yeah, same place,” he confirmed. “I’m already here waiting for you.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Alright. I’ll be there
