The sun was setting over the ocean, casting a warm orange glow across the sky. Serena and Solene sat on their usual spot by the beach, their legs stretched out on the sand as the gentle waves lapped at the shore. Serena had grown comfortable in Carmel, finding peace in the routine of her days. Solene had become her anchor, a quiet and reassuring presence that helped her sort through the storm of emotions she had been trying to ignore for too long.
They had been talking about everything and nothing in particular when Solene turned to Serena, her expression soft but probing. “So, have you made up your mind about him?”
The question hung in the air for a moment, as Serena felt her heart skip a beat at the mention of his name. She hadn’t spoken to Eli since the day he went to Carmel—since she
