CHAPTER FIVE

LUKE

Leaning against the kitchen counter, Luke nursed a cold glass of beer, his other hand tucked into his pocket. The atmosphere was cool and relaxing, exactly what he needed to unwind. The music wasn’t loud, just a steady rhythm that buzzed in the background. There was laughter from the balcony, someone playing a drinking game in the corner, and Kade, of course, striding over with that familiar grin.

“Thought you’d bail, man,” Kade said, clapping him on the back.

Luke smirked. “Thought about it.”

‘I never thought I'd see the day where you'd ever want to skip a party.” Kade teased, referring to Luke's days of endless partying. Luke grinned, remembering how crazy and chaotic his life was a year ago. They clinked cups lightly, and for a moment, it almost felt like the old days.

“I’m glad you came, though,” Kate said. “You’ve been MIA.”

“Yeah,” he muttered, eyes scanning the room. “Life’s been… a lot.”

Kate nodded knowingly, then glanced over his shoulder. “Oh crap!”

Luke raised a brow, about to ask what was wrong when he heard a sultry voice he hadn’t heard for a while.

“Hey, stranger.”

He turned. Sophie.

Of course.

She looked good—always had—but that familiar twist settled in his gut. Not from attraction. From discomfort.

“Sophie,” he said simply.

She gave him a tight-lipped smile, trying not to show too much. “Didn’t think I’d see you here.”

“I didn’t think I’d see you either,” he replied, measured.

Kade cleared his throat, suddenly looking guilty. “Uh… yeah. That’s on me. She and Kayla are still close. I probably should’ve given you a heads up.”

Luke shot him a sideways glance but didn’t say anything.

Sophie still lingered, too close for his liking. “You’ve been ignoring my texts and calls.”

“I’ve been… busy,” he said, eyes drifting toward the drink in his hand. “Didn’t mean to make things messy.”

“Right.”

She didn’t press further, but the silence that followed said enough. After a beat, Luke straightened. “I need a refill.”

“Of course you do,” she muttered, stepping aside.

He moved toward the drink station, grateful for the excuse to step away. It was the first time in a while he felt like he was breathing. The air here was different. No suits, no boardrooms, no responsibilities chasing him into every room. Just people. Music. And a quiet part of himself that still remembered how to be normal.

He poured a new drink, exhaled slowly, and leaned against the counter again.

And then he saw her. Ava.

His brow furrowed slightly. It was really her.

She didn’t see him at first. She was mid-conversation with someone, head tilted, hands gesturing a little. He couldn’t look away.

She looked... different. Not the buttoned-up version from the office. Not the one who avoided eye contact in meetings or kept her voice tight. There was something softer about her now, freer.

Then, her eyes finally met his. He saw the shock in them. For a moment, everything stilled. But he didn’t move. Just took another sip of his drink and held her gaze, steady but unreadable.

She looked away as her friend pulled her towards a table filled with people.

Luke swallowed, jaw flexing slightly. Yeah, tonight was going to be interesting.

AVA

Ava stirred her drink quietly, half-listening to her old classmates reminisce about their college days. She wasn't close with any of them, except Christine, but she remembered some faces vaguely.

She chipped into the conversations when directly asked a question but otherwise remained silent, maintaining a polite smile. She was trying very hard not to think about the man at the corner but her eyes kept wandering towards him.

He was still there.

Luke.

Leaning against the counter, glass in hand, wearing a pale button-up with the sleeves rolled casually. His hair looked a bit tousled, like he hadn’t tried too hard. She wasn’t used to seeing him like this. At work, he always looked sharp, pressed, distant. Here, he looked relaxed and almost blended into the background. Almost.

Not wanting to seem like a creep, Ava averted her gaze. Instead, she focused on her glass, running a thumb over the rim, pretending to be invested in the bubbles dancing up from the bottom. Anything to stay still. Composed.

“David, remember Ava?” Christine asked suddenly, nudging the guy across from them with a grin.

David blinked, then laughed softly. “Of course. I’d recognize that face anywhere.”

Ava offered a small smile.

David hadn’t changed much. Still lean, still carrying that boyish charm he always had back in school. Not the kind of guy that stopped hearts, but the kind girls liked to call “cute” with a crooked grin, easy laugh, kind of energy. Safe.

“You look great,” he added, eyes warm. “Still into tech and all that?”

“Something like that,” Ava replied, her voice soft.

“Right, right. That’s cool. You’ve always been smart.”

She gave him a polite nod, but her eyes had already wandered—again! Her mind was swirling around, searching for reasons why he was at the party.

Christine nudged her under the table. “You keep looking over there.”

Ava stiffened slightly. “It’s nothing.”

Christine tilted her head. “That nothing looks like something.”

Ava sighed. “He’s… someone from work.”

Christine’s eyes lit up immediately. “You brought a work friend here? Wow. You’ve never let me meet any of them.”

“I didn’t bring him,” Ava gritted out in frustration.

“Even better,” Christine said, already leaning a bit to get a clearer view. “You’ve got options tonight.”

“Christine.”

“What?” Christine asked slyly then moved to whisper in Ava's ears. “David's cute, but this one?” She looked toward the bar again. “Hot.”

Ava was already shaking her head. “Please don’t.”

Christine ignored her completely. “We’re being friendly. Friendly people wave.” She lifted her hand casually, about to wave when the guy standing next to Luke called out to someone in their direction.

“Babe!”

They looked back to see Kayla grinning, beckoning on Luke and his friend to come over.

Christine laughed. “Too late. I didn't even call them. And I think that's Kayla's boyfriend.”

Across the room, Kayla's boyfriend said something to Luke and pointed. Luke hesitated, then slowly started walking over with him.

Ava’s heart thudded.

Christine leaned in again. “Breathe, you look like you swallowed a basket of limes.”

Ava tried to glare at her, but her throat had gone dry.

And just like that, they were almost there.

Christine whispered, “Smile.”