Chapter 22
Daphne
Jake and I were walking through the mall, holding hands, laughing, and exchanging warm gestures. I had never been much of a mall person, but that day felt different. Maybe it was the lights hanging from the ceiling, the shop windows bursting with vibrant colors, or the kids running back and forth with balloons in their hands. Or maybe it was him. He made every corner of the place, every sound, and every little detail feel like part of a plan designed to give us a perfect afternoon.
"Look at this! Isn't it adorable?" I said, stopping in front of a gift shop filled with stuffed animals in every color and shape. A teddy bear with a red ribbon around its neck caught my eye, and I picked it up to show Jake.
Jake smiled sweetly as he watched me, as if I were the most adorab
