Chapter 2

I didn't look back when I walked into the terminal.

But I knew Gideon was still standing there. I could feel his eyes on me, watching until I disappeared through security.

Brynn told me later that Dove had to call his name over and over, her voice growing more and more impatient, before he finally turned away.

For the first time in seven years, I didn't check his social media the moment I landed. Didn't scroll through Dove's Instagram looking for clues. Didn't sit by the phone waiting for him to call.

Instead, Brynn dragged me to clubs I'd never been to, dancing until 3 a.m. We hiked through snow-covered trails, watched the frozen waterfalls, ate at tiny restaurants where no one spoke English.

"I've never seen you like this," she said one night, cheeks flushed from the cold.

I just smiled.

Twenty days passed. Gideon didn't reach out once, and I didn't think about him. Not really.

So when his name lit up my phone the day before Valentine's Day, I wasn't expecting it.

Video call.

I almost didn't answer. But old habits die hard.

His face appeared, soft lighting behind him. He looked good. Relaxed.

"Hey, stranger." His voice was low, teasing. "Forgot about me already?"

I didn't answer.

"I haven't forgotten about you." He leaned closer to the camera. "Remember that little cabin in the mountains? Our first trip together. You burned the pasta so bad we had to eat instant noodles at midnight."

"You're the one who distracted me," I said before I could stop myself.

He laughed. "Guilty." His eyes softened. "I miss that. I miss us."

The old Seren would have melted. Would have told him she missed him too, that she couldn't wait to come home.

"I've been thinking," he continued. "It's only ten hours from here. I could fly out tomorrow. We could finally watch the Northern Lights together."

My heart stuttered.

He was coming to see me? For Valentine's Day?

"I've already been looking at flights," he said. "There's one that lands at—"

"Gideon?" Dove's voice drifted in from off-screen. "Did you find a good spot for the aurora?"

I went cold.

She was asking about viewing spots. For the Northern Lights. For their Valentine's Day trip.

He wasn't coming for me.

Gideon's expression flickered. "Dove wants to see them too. Since you're already there, I thought we could all go together."

All go together.

"Actually," he added, "could you help us book a restaurant? She wants to try local cuisine. You know the area better."

He wanted me to plan their date.

Before I could respond, Dove appeared behind him. She draped herself over his shoulders, lips brushing his ear.

"Hurry up," she murmured. "I'm cold. Come keep me warm."

Her eyes flicked to the screen. She knew I was watching.

Gideon looked back at the camera. "Seren, I'll call you—"

I hung up.

Brynn glanced over. "What happened?"

"Nothing." I tossed the phone aside. "Let's go dancing."

We spent Valentine's Day at a rooftop bar, watching the sky turn pink and gold. Brynn ordered every cocktail on the menu. We laughed until our cheeks hurt.

A week later, Brynn shoved her phone in my face.

"You have to see this."

A gossip post. Someone had filmed Gideon and Dove at a Valentine's dinner—screaming at each other over dessert. She threw wine in his face. He stormed out. The whole restaurant watched.

"Apparently they've been fighting since that night," Brynn said. "Something about you."