Emily
The lobby of the graphic house buzzed with activity, but I barely noticed as my thoughts swirled. Ethan’s sudden appearance had thrown me off balance, and even Mera’s overly enthusiastic chatter about him couldn’t bring me back to focus.
“I’ll be right back,” I told her, offering a polite but hurried smile as I stepped away.
I found him standing near the exit, his tall frame and confident stance commanding attention even in the midst of the bustling space. His back was to me, but he turned when he heard my approach. The way his eyes lit up upon seeing me sent an unexpected jolt through me.
“Emily,” he said, his voice warm, as though my name held some secret significance.
“Ethan,” I replied, folding my arms over my chest. “What are you doing here?”
“I was handling some business,
