Chapter 2: Long Time No See

Twelve years.

Forget it. What’s the point?

As days passed, work kept me busy, and I gradually forgot about it. Or at least, I tried to. Life has a way of moving on, even if you’re still stuck back there.

One night, over dinner, my mom brought up blind dates again. I just sighed.

"Maggie, this boy is my coworker’s nephew, a graduate from Harvard Law. Want to meet him?" Her voice was hopeful, practiced—I’d heard this pitch before.

I was used to it and didn’t even look at the photo she handed me on her phone. Seen it all before.

"A lawyer? I’m afraid I’d end up divorced and broke." I grinned, half-joking, half-serious. Paused. "Not interested." My mom just rolled her eyes.

My mom, used to my attitude by now, just kept going. "I’ve sent you his photo and the time and place for the date. Be on time. Don’t stand him up like last time."

"Mom! I don’t—"

I meant to swipe away her message, but my hand slipped and I opened it by accident. The screen lit up, and for a second, I almost dropped the phone.

My words of refusal caught in my throat the moment I saw the photo. Wait—

!!!

It’s him!!

Ethan Carter.

Even after more than ten years, he hadn’t changed much. His jawline was sharper, maybe, but the smile was exactly the same—easy, a little mischievous. My heart skipped.

Is he still single…

I didn’t even notice my excitement. With trembling hands, I tapped on the contact card my mom forwarded me. My thumb hovered, then pressed down like it had a mind of its own.

I kept staring at his Instagram avatar and name. My heart raced. Was it possible?

After a while, I finally tapped "Add Friend," my finger shaking.

I typed the verification message carefully: *I’m the blind date your aunt set up.*

He accepted almost immediately. My breath caught.

*Hey.*

Even just that "Hey" felt like a lifetime had passed. The word glowed on my screen, simple but packed with all those years.

I bit my lip, trying to play it cool. I tried hard to control my excitement.

*Hey.*