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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsi5ZZl2zIN
“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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9GdD11hD7
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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76UlQE3Qu0
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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWqoTUaW4I
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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvXbZAj9W2
“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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rHPrYDCW6
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. 876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8arOkJ69Ar
“Look, would you--”876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr9Z13lTLf
“Jace, can I--”876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXmP3UO52n
You both stop, embarrassed and more than a little flustered. You gesture for him to continue.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6CEIuSSPQ
“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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeQh5nno9Z
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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlXTxL6Bbg
“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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ291FVm0VqC
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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT0E4TjYdT
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.876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd8qsQvWOP
You stand up and smile. “Why the hell not?”
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