4. James
4
JAMES
I swirl the whiskey in my glass, watching the amber liquid catch the dim light. The bar is half-full, a murmur of conversations and clinking glasses filling the air. It’s been a long ass day, and the whiskey is doing its job of dulling the edges.
My eyes drift up, scanning the room without much interest. A moment later, I freeze.
Across the room, standing near the entrance, is Bianca. The room seems to shrink, everything narrowing down to just her. Her braids cascade over her shoulders, and she’s laughing at something someone said. It's been six years since I saw her, since I saw any of them.
The four of us were inseparable back then. Our relationship with Bianca was mostly fun and games at first. But as time went on, it got deeper than that.
We didn’t just have fun with her; we fell for her—hard. She had this way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room when she looked at you with those big brown eyes of hers. We all developed real feelings for her over that school year.
After she left, being around Liam and Alex became unbearable. They were constant reminders of her—her laugh, her touch, the way she made everything feel alive.
Eventually, I had to make a choice. Staying close to them meant living in the shadow of what we lost. So, I distanced myself, buried myself in work, focusing on climbing the real estate ladder alone. Liam and Alex went on to build their company without me, while I carved out my own path.
I haven’t heard from either of them since then. It was easier that way—no reminders, no rehashed pain. Out of sight, out of mind. Or at least that’s what I told myself.
I set my empty glass down, the ice clinking softly. My feet move before my brain catches up, carrying me across the bar toward her. Each step seems like a lifetime. Bianca’s laugh filters through the noise, a sound that used to be like coming home.
She turns just as I approach, her eyes widening in surprise. “James?”
“Hey, Bia,” I say, leaning against the bar next to her. “It's been a long time.”
Her mouth opens and closes like she’s searching for words. Finally, she settles on, “Wow. Yeah, it has been.”
I can’t help but smirk at her stunned expression. “I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
She laughs, a little nervously. “Same here. What are you doing in San Diego?”
“Work,” I reply casually. “I’ve been here a while now. Real estate market’s booming.”
“Right, of course.” She nods, as if piecing things together in her mind.
The awkwardness hangs between us for a moment before I break it. “You look good, Bia.”
A flicker of something passes through her eyes before she smiles. “Thanks, James. You do too.” She glances around the bar and then back at me.
“This place is nice.”
I shrug nonchalantly. “They have good whiskey.”
She laughs again, this time more genuine. “I see some things never change.”
“Some things do,” I counter, holding her gaze.
She tilts her head slightly, curiosity dancing in her eyes. “Like what?”
“Well,” I lean in a bit closer, lowering my voice, “for one thing, you’re back in my life.”
She bites her lower lip for a second before letting out a soft chuckle. “I guess so.”
“So, what brings you here tonight?” I ask, letting my eyes linger on hers for a moment longer than necessary.
She twirls one of her braids around her finger. “Just needed to unwind after a long day. I’m working on a big project, and it’s been... intense so far.”
I lean in, intrigued. “Big project, huh? Tell me more.”
“Well,” she starts, her voice gaining a spark of excitement, “I just got hired to design a new property for a real estate company here in San Diego. It’s my first major assignment since moving here.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Really? Which company?”
“Murphy-Olsen Realty,” she replies, watching my reaction closely. “I had a meeting with them today. Alex and Liam were there.”
My jaw tenses and I exhale roughly. She notices and adds quickly, “I was surprised you weren’t there. Weren’t you supposed to start a company together after college?”
“Things changed after you left, Bia. We had a fallout after college.”
Her brow furrows in confusion. “What happened?”
“It’s complicated,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “We kinda just went our separate ways after... ” The words hang in the air between us.
She looks down at her drink, her fingers tracing the rim of the glass. “I didn’t know. I thought you guys would stick together no matter what.”
"We had a big argument," I finally say, my voice controlled but low. "Things got heated, and I decided it was best to go my own way."
Bianca's eyes search mine, looking for answers I’m not ready to give. "What was the argument about?"
I shrug, keeping my face neutral. "Just...stuff from college. Old wounds."
She looks skeptical but doesn’t push further. Instead, she swirls her drink, her fingers tapping the glass rhythmically. "It must’ve been pretty bad if it made you leave like that."
"Yeah," I mutter, more to myself than to her.
Bianca’s gaze softens, curiosity etched in her eyes. “So, what have you been up to?”
I lean against the bar letting her question settle on me. “I was in New York for a while,” I begin slowly. “Working for a big real estate firm there. It was... intense, but a good experience.”
Her eyebrows raise slightly. “New York? That sounds exciting.”
“Yeah, it was.” I nod, recalling the fast-paced life I left behind. “But after a few years, I realized I missed home.”
Bianca’s eyes meet mine, and there’s a flicker of understanding there. “So you’re working solo now?”
“Yeah,” I confirm, finishing my drink. “I’ve got my own clients and projects here in San Diego. Keeps me busy.”
She smiles, and it's as if a bridge between the past and present is slowly being built. “Sounds like you’ve done well for yourself.”
“I try,” I reply with a shrug, trying to downplay it.
I’m quiet for a moment, letting the comfortable silence settle between us. The noise of the bar fades into the background, and all I can focus on is her. Finally, I steady my breath and decide to go for it.
“Why did you ghost us, Bia?” My voice comes out softer than I intend it to.
She looks down at her drink, her fingers tracing the rim again. The easygoing smile she wore moments ago fades. I watch as discomfort washes over her.
“It was just too hard,” she admits after a beat, her voice barely audible. “Saying goodbye to all three of you... it was too much for me to handle.”
She looks up, and our eyes meet. There's vulnerability there, something I don’t remember ever seeing before.
“I get it,” I say, surprising myself with how genuine I sound. “We were young.”
Her shoulders relax slightly at my words, and she gives me a small, grateful smile. “Yeah, we were.”
I lean in a little closer, trying to bridge the gap that’s formed over the years. “I’m not mad at you, Bia. I don’t hold anything against you.”
She blinks, looking a bit taken aback. “Really?”
“Really.” I nod, letting out a breath. “It’s just... good to see you again.”
Her smile widens this time, and for the first time tonight I think we might be on solid ground. “It’s good to see you too, James.”
I lean in closer, grasping to the pull between us as it grows stronger. “You know,” I say, my voice dropping a notch, “we never really got to finish what we started back then.”
Her eyes widen slightly, but there’s a spark of mischief in them now. “Oh? And what exactly did we start?”
I smirk, enjoying the game. “You remember those nights we spent together, don’t you? You know the ones.”
She laughs softly, her fingers brushing against mine on the bar. “How could I forget? Those were some of my favorite nights.”
“Mine too,” I admit, letting my gaze drop to her lips for just a second before meeting her eyes again. “But I think we’ve got some unfinished business.”
Her smile turns coy as she leans in, her voice barely above a whisper. “And what kind of business would that be, Mr. Eriksen?”
“How about you come back to my place and I can show you?”
Bianca’s eyes flicker. She bites her lower lip again before nodding slowly.
“Alright, James. Lead the way.”