Chapter Seventeen

POV Thorne

As the night drew on, I found myself lost in the rhythm of the dance, the feel of Leah in my arms, the smell of her hair, and the sound of her laughter. It was as if all the time we had been apart had vanished, and we were back where we belonged, together. I couldn't help but wonder if she was beginning to believe me, if she was starting to trust me again. I felt a surge of hope, and with it, a determination to make things right between us. I knew I had been a fool to allow Vanessa to come between us, and I was grateful for this second chance to prove myself to Leah. I knew she still had insecurities about what my relationship was with Vanessa but I wasn't lying to her. Our dance came to an end, and as we walked back to our table, I couldn't help but steal glances at her, admiring her beauty, her grace. I wanted nothing more than to tell her that I loved her, that I would do anything to make her happy, but I knew I had to be patient. I had to give her time to heal, to trust