46
SELENA
FLASHBACK
Our second date wasn't fancy. He picked me up after work. No reservations. No plans.
"Where are we going?"
"No idea."
"You're the CEO. You plan everything."
"Not tonight." He smiled. "Tonight, we just exist."
We walked through the city. No destination. Just streets and lights and the sound of our footsteps. He pointed out a street musician. I stopped to listen. He bought me ice cream from a random cart. I got it on my nose.
"You have—"
"Don't."
"It's right there. On your—"
"Lucien."
He reached out. Wiped it gently with his thumb. "There. All better."
I stared at him.
"What?"
"Nothing." I looked away. "Just... no one's ever—"
I didn't finish. He didn't push.
We ended up at a small park. Swings. Benches. Fairy lights in the trees. I sat on a swing. He sat on the one next to me.
"This is ridiculous."
"What is?"
"Us. On swings. Like children."
"Best kind of date." He started swinging. Slowly. "No pressure. No performance. Just being."
I watched him. This powerful CEO. Swinging on a playground like it was the most natural thing. I laughed. Not a polite laugh. A real one. Full. Loud. Hers.
He stopped swinging. Stared at me.
"There you are."
"What?"
"You." His eyes were soft. "I've been waiting to meet you."
I felt something crack open in my chest. Not in a bad way. In a finally way.
"I don't know how to be her."
"Who?"
"Me. The real me. I've been performing for so long I forgot what I actually sound like."
"You sound like this." He smiled. "Laughing. Swinging. Getting ice cream on your nose."
"That was one time."
"It was twenty minutes ago."
I laughed again. "Shut up."
"Never."
We swung in silence for a while. Then he asked, "What did you love? Before everything."
I thought about it. "Music. I used to sing. In my room. Dance when no one was watching."
"What happened?"
"I don't know. I just stopped."
He got off his swing. Walked around. Knelt in front of me. "Sing for me."
"What? No."
"Just a little. Just something."
"Lucien—"
"Selena." He took my hands. "I don't want the version of you that performs. I want the one who forgot how to sing. The one who danced alone. The one who's been hiding."
"What if she's not good enough?"
"She is." He squeezed my hands. "She's always been enough. She just forgot."
I looked at him. This man who kept showing up. Who kept handing me pieces of myself I'd lost. I took a breath and sang. Just a little. Just a few lines from an old song. My voice shaky at first, then stronger.
When I finished, he was smiling.
"There she is."
"What?"
"You." He stood. Pulled me up. "Welcome back."
I laughed. Cried a little. Didn't care. He pulled me into his arms.
"I've got you."
"I know."
We walked home slowly. Hand in hand. At my door, he kissed my forehead. Then my nose. Then my lips.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"For what?"
"For letting me meet you."
I smiled. Really smiled.
"Thank you for finding me."