Chapter 40: He’s Back

Sharon’s POV

The restaurant was buzzing with energy. After Snowtown College’s hard-fought win in the first game of the league, the entire team, along with the cheerleaders, crammed into the cozy restaurant. Laughter echoed off the dark wooden walls, and every table was piled high with plates of food and drinks. The whole town had come to life in this small, intimate setting. The place had an old-school charm—baseball memorabilia covered every inch of the walls, and the vintage bulbs cast a soft glow over the room—the warm, buttery scent of garlic bread and sizzling steaks mixed with the chatter of celebration.

I sat beside Douglas, who looked more relaxed than he had in weeks. His eyes, though tired from the stress of the game, still sparkled with pride as he watched the team’s banter.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” I said softly, nudging him with my elbow. “Seeing them this happy?”