“Hi!” A cute redhead greets me with a bright smile, a menu clutched in her hand. “Table for one?” she asks cheerfully.

“Table for two, actually,” I say with a smile.

She nods and leads me to a booth inside. I slide in, thank her, and sink back into the seat. I don’t know why, but I feel completely drained.

I run a hand through my hair and tug at my collar. I can’t wait to get out of my work clothes—this button-up is choking me.

“Caleb Brown.” Her sharp voice slices through my thoughts.

I look up to see the tall, beautiful, blonde towering over me, hand on her hip, head shaking.

“You have a lot of explaining to do.”

I groan and slump farther into the booth. “You know.”

She lets out a short laugh and slides into the seat across from me. She brushes her blonde hair off her bare shoulders, revealing a cute little strapless white top.

“How long have I known you? You think you could hide anything from me? ” she teases, rolling her eyes.

The waitress returns. “Can I grab you two some drinks to start?” she asks.

“I’ll take an espresso martini,” Sarah says, clasping her hands together and leaning on the table.

“Vodka with Sprite for me, please,” I add with a smile.

The waitress nods and walks away.

Sarah looks at me, confused. “Since when do you drink those?”

“It kind of became Natheniel’s and I drink back in Toronto,” I say, shaking my head as flashes of us laughing on the couch with our matching drinks fill my mind.

God, I miss him.

“This is so crazy. You two follow me to Toronto—very romantic, by the way—only to…what? Fall for each other?” she says, shaking her head.

“I guess... Wait, how much do you know?”

“Nuh uh. You’re not squeezing info out of me. If you want to talk to Nathan, you can ask him yourself. Have you two even talked since being back?” she asks, folding her arms and leaning back in the booth.

I look down at my palms.

“A note, Caleb? Seriously?” she says, clearly referring to the sorry excuse of a goodbye I left him at the hotel.

I’ve got some things to take care of. Sorry for running off. I’ll be in touch. – Caleb

“You don’t understand. I had to leave. My dad bought me a plane ticket, and I didn’t have a choice.”

She groans and rolls her eyes. Just then, the waitress sets down our drinks.

“Just the drinks, thanks,” I say with a polite smile. She nods and walks off.

“Caleb… you know that has nothing to do with it. Phones exist. A call, a text—anything to let him know you weren’t just disappearing,” Sarah says, taking a long sip.

I follow suit, her words echoing in my mind.

“You don’t think I know that? I messed up. Again. That’s all I ever seem to do when it comes to him. First, stealing you away, and now this. I can’t win.”