Elara

After helping Mr. Rowe's son, my boss, out, a feeling of awkwardness washed over me as I prepared to face Damon again. The memory of that night lingered in my mind, clawing at my thoughts. No! No! No, Elara! I mentally scolded myself, desperately trying to push those memories away.

"Get what out of your head?" His voice startled me. I turned sharply, finding Damon standing just behind me, his expression unreadable. "Nothing," I managed to stammer, feeling the warmth spread across my cheeks like wildfire. Just then, Luna and Jared emerged from the restaurant, laughter trailing behind them. Brought a smile to my face

"What are you smiling about?" Damon's voice cut through my thoughts, drawing my gaze downward. I didn't respond, and silence hung between us like a thick fog.

"Well," he began, breaking the tension, "I heard there's a lovely restaurant nearby. Why don't we check it out?" I nodded, a mix of anticipation stirring within me as I climbed into his car, while Luna and Jared hopped into Jared's vehicle. As we drove, the conversation turned to mundane topics; he asked how I'd been, and I replied, "I'm doing good."

Elara… I've been wanting to ask you something… umm… that night of your engagement—I was pretty wasted, and my memories from that evening are blurry. What actually happened?

The realization hit me like a splash of cold water: he didn't remember anything. A wave of relief washed over me, and I sighed quietly, choosing my words carefully. What did he expect me to say? He glanced at me expectantly, but I held my silence for the rest of the ride, the comfortable hum of the car punctuated only by the distant sounds of the bustling city.

As we arrived at the restaurant, we settled into our seats, a blanket of silence falling over us. From across the room, I caught sight of Luna and Jared at another table, shades of conversation and laughter floating between them. Once our plates were empty, Damon took care of the bill with ease, and we stepped outside to catch a breath of fresh air.

"Damon, I have something important to tell you," I began, my heart racing. "I… I love you more than a brother. Hell, I don't even see you as my brother anymore." I searched his dreamy brown eyes, tears welling up, blurring my vision. "But the thing is, I've thought long and hard about this. We just can't be. And it hurts, Damon. It hurts every single day like my heart is being torn apart."

"Why is that? Why should I have to give you up?" His voice was low, filled with an ache that mirrored my own.

When he wrapped his arms around me, a dam broke within me, and tears streamed down my cheeks. I clung to him tightly, my sobs echoing the pain of our unspoken love. At that moment, I didn't want to let go, but deep down, I knew I had to.