Ava smoothed the silk of her dress as the maître d’ led them through the softly lit restaurant. La Cavatina had always been her favorite place.
Warm amber light spilled from sconces on the walls, the air rich with garlic and fresh herbs, the low hum of conversations and SZA’s Nobody gets me playing in the background gave the room a bubbly vibe.
Normally, just stepping inside would comfort her. But tonight— tonight felt like stepping into a cage.
Xander’s hand rested at the small of her back, steady and sure, a gesture that soothed her in the past now seemed like fire to her skin.
He looked sharp in his dark jacket, his smile easy, but she could sense the effort behind it. He pulled her chair out like he always did, gentle, thoughtful.
“I thought you’d like this,” he said as she sat
