Song for this chapter: Ariana Grande - Intro on the multimedia.

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Sign

It was the third week of March, and I was finally getting a moment to myself after putting Ivy down for her afternoon nap. I sat on the couch, letting out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. The apartment was quiet, and for a few minutes, I just sat there, soaking in the silence.

My phone buzzed on the table, cutting through the stillness. I picked it up, expecting a message from Claire or maybe a work email. Instead, it was from an unregistered number. My brow furrowed as I opened the text.

Hey, it's Nat. Could you give me a call when you have time? It's important.

I stared at the screen for a moment, my mind spinning. Nat? What could she possibly want? We weren't exactly friends—barely acquaintances, really. The only real interaction we'd had was back on Valentine's Day at Juls' restaurant. After everything that had happened that night, I didn't expect to ever hear from her again.

My first thought was Juls. Maybe something happened to him, and Nat was reaching out on his behalf. But why would she? If anything, Juls would contact me himself if it were serious. The uncertainty gnawed at me, and before I could talk myself out of it, I pressed the call button.

The phone rang twice before Nat picked up. Her voice was friendly but direct. "Hey, Sign. Thanks for calling back."

"No problem," I said, trying to sound casual even though I was still trying to figure out why she'd texted me. "I got your message. What's going on?"

There was a brief pause on the other end, long enough to make me feel even more on edge. "Well," Nat began, "I actually need a favor."

A favor? Now I was even more confused. "Okay..."

"We're short a photographer for a shoot tomorrow," she explained. "One of our regulars just resigned unexpectedly, and we're in a bit of a bind."

I raised an eyebrow, glancing toward the window as if the sky outside could somehow make this situation make sense. "And you thought of me?"

"Well, actually, it was Juls who suggested it," Nat said quickly, her tone a bit lighter now. "He mentioned that you're a great photographer, and I thought, why not ask? We could really use the help."

Hearing Juls' name gave me a small sense of relief, but that didn't mean my concerns were completely gone. I leaned back on the couch, hesitating for a moment before asking the question that had been on my mind since the call started.

"Is Linc going to be there?"

The pause on Nat's end was just a little too long for comfort. I held my breath, waiting for her response. "No," she said, finally. "He's got other business to attend to. He won't be at the shoot, I promise."

I exhaled slowly, the tension in my chest easing just a bit. The last thing I needed was to deal with Lincoln right now. Not after what happened the last time I saw him.

"Alright," I said after a moment. "I'll do it. Where is it?"

"Las Vegas," Nat replied, sounding genuinely relieved. "I'll send you all the details. You won't have to worry about anything—everything's already arranged."

Las Vegas. I let out a small sigh of relief. With all the press Nat had been doing, I half-expected her to ask me to fly to some remote location halfway across the world. I'd seen her interviews on TV, and she'd been traveling everywhere lately.

"Okay," I said, nodding to myself. "I'll be there."

"Thank you, Sign," Nat said, and I could hear the gratitude in her voice. "I'll send over the info right now. See you tomorrow."

The call ended, and I placed my phone down on the table, leaning back against the cushions. My eyes drifted up to the ceiling, trying to process what just happened. Tomorrow, I'd be working with Nat, Juls' girlfriend.

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the silence settle around me once more. Maybe this would be a good distraction. A way to refocus my energy on something other than everything that had been weighing on me lately. Tomorrow would be about work, not my messy past or lingering feelings.

At least, that's what I hoped.

***

The third week of March in Las Vegas was buzzing with energy, and as I arrived at the chic rooftop venue for the shoot, the contrast to my whirlwind of emotions couldn't have been starker. I had hoped for a break from the chaos of my life, but what I found was the exact opposite.

Nat greeted me warmly when I arrived. "Glad you could make it," she said. "Everything's set up. Just let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks, Nat," I replied, my voice a bit shaky despite my best efforts to stay composed. As soon as I started setting up my equipment, I lost myself in the work. The city skyline was a stunning backdrop, and the shoot was going smoothly. I was focused, my camera snapping away, oblivious to the world outside the set.

Then I saw him.

Linc.

He was standing near the entrance, looking as cold and detached as ever. My heart leapt into my throat. What was he doing here? Nat had assured me he wouldn't be. My hands trembled slightly, but I forced myself to focus on the task at hand, trying to keep my anxiety in check.

I moved to a quieter corner of the set, hoping to avoid him. Linc was engaged in a conversation with a production assistant, discussing something related to the film. I tried to keep my distance, my mind racing with thoughts of our past and the secrets I had kept. Seeing him again after all these years was like a punch to the gut.

The shoot wrapped up earlier than planned, and Nat walked over with a relieved smile. "You did great today. We're done. Feel free to take a break."

I nodded absently, my gaze fixed on Linc, who was now watching me with that intense, unreadable stare. I was about to leave when I heard his voice, cold and direct.

"Sign?"

I turned slowly, my heart pounding. Our eyes met, and the weight of the years and unspoken words seemed to hang between us. He looked the same, maybe a little more tired, but the guarded expression was unchanged.

"I didn't expect to see you here," he said.

"Just filling in," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Nat needed someone, and I was available."

Linc's eyes narrowed slightly. "So, you're still doing photography?"

"Yeah," I said, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice. "It's what I do now."

For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other. The silence was heavy, filled with everything we hadn't said over the years. His eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite place—regret, maybe, or something else entirely.

"You've changed," Linc said quietly.

"So have you," I shot back, unable to keep the edge out of my voice.

There was a tense pause before he spoke again, his voice softer now. "There's something I need to talk to you about."

Panic surged through me. I didn't want to go there, not now. I shook my head quickly. "Linc, I'm not here to revisit the past."

He seemed to struggle with his response but finally nodded. "Fine. But this isn't over."

Without another word, he turned and walked away. I watched him go, my heart pounding and my mind racing. I had managed to get through most of the day without seeing him, but now everything felt raw again.

Nat approached a moment later, concern in her eyes. "Are you okay? I didn't know he'd be here."

"I'm fine," I said, though the words felt hollow. "I just need to get out of here."

As I left the set, the weight of the encounter pressed heavily on me. I had come to Vegas hoping for a break from everything, but seeing Linc had dredged up old wounds and reminded me of the secrets I had worked so hard to keep buried. With him back in my life, even briefly, I knew the past wasn't going to stay buried for long.

I returned to my hotel room, feeling an odd mix of exhaustion and unease. The encounter with Linc had left me on edge, and I needed a moment to decompress. I sank onto the edge of the bed and stared at the ceiling, trying to push away the thoughts swirling in my mind.

Just as I was about to lose myself in the endless cycle of my thoughts, my phone buzzed on the bedside table. It was a text from Nat.

Hi Sign, I know it's been a long day, but I was wondering if you'd like to join me for dinner. :)

I stared at the message, my heart doing a little dance of curiosity and hesitation. Part of me wanted to decline, to hide away and avoid any further social interactions for the day. But another part of me thought it might be a good opportunity to connect with Nat, especially given the recent revelations and the fact that she seemed genuinely nice.

Besides, getting to know Nat, Juls' girlfriend, seemed like the right thing to do. It would be good for both of us to build some sort of rapport, and perhaps it might even distract me from the turmoil Linc had stirred up. I took a deep breath, weighing my options, and then typed out a quick reply.

Hi Nat, I'd love to join you for dinner. Thanks for the invite. What time and where should we meet?

The response came almost instantly.

Great! How about 7 PM at that little Italian place down the street from the hotel? See you then!

I put my phone away and glanced at the clock. I had a few hours to get ready and shake off the lingering anxiety from earlier. I decided to take a long, hot shower and try to clear my mind.

By the time I was ready, I felt a bit more composed. I chose a simple but elegant outfit, something that felt comfortable and appropriate for a casual dinner. As I walked to the restaurant, the evening air was crisp, and the city lights shimmered against the darkening sky.

When I arrived at the Italian place, Nat was already there, seated at a cozy table near the window. She greeted me with a warm smile, her friendly demeanor instantly putting me at ease.

"Hi Sign, over here!" she called out, waving me over.

I walked to the table, smiling back. "Hi Nat. Thanks for inviting me. This place looks lovely."

"I'm glad you think so," Nat said with a warm smile. "I thought it would be nice to unwind and chat a bit after today. I'm really glad you could make it. Please, have a seat."

I slid into the chair across from her, and Nat began to peruse the menu. "So, first off, I want to apologize for how things went last time," Nat said, her tone sincere. "I didn't mean to intrude or make you uncomfortable. I was just hoping we could start over and get to know each other a bit better. I didn't want our first impression to be that awkward encounter at the restaurant."

I appreciated her honesty. "No problem, Nat. I guess it was a bit of a surprise, but I'm glad to have the chance to get to know you better."

Nat smiled, clearly relieved. "Great! So, how's your work been lately? I know you're a fantastic photographer—Juls had only great things to say about you."

"Oh, thank you," I said, feeling a bit more at ease. "It's been busy but fulfilling. I've had some interesting projects recently. It's been a good mix of challenges and creativity."

"Sounds exciting!" Nat said. "I've been keeping busy with the press tour and film promotion. It's a whirlwind, but I'm enjoying it. Sometimes I think I'd like to switch things up and do something new, but then I remember why I love acting."

We continued chatting about our respective work, diving into stories and experiences. The conversation was light, and Nat was careful not to bring up sensitive topics like Ivy or Juls. It was refreshing to focus on something other than the complications in my life.

As the evening wore on, we shared some laughs over our favorite movies and travel experiences. It felt like a genuine connection was forming. However, just as the meal was coming to a close, Nat's expression grew a little more serious.

"Sign, I need to apologize again," Nat said, her voice soft. "The truth is, I didn't exactly come clean earlier. The real reason I invited you to Vegas was to help Linc get a chance to talk to you."

I blinked in surprise, feeling a mix of confusion and unease. "So, this was all... planned?"

Nat nodded, looking a bit embarrassed. "I wanted to give Linc the opportunity to reconnect with you. I know it's complicated, and I didn't mean to deceive you. I just thought... maybe it's something you both needed."

Before I could respond, the restaurant door opened, and in walked Linc. He looked around, his gaze settling on our table. I felt my heart skip a beat as he made his way over and sat down in the chair across from me, his usual cold demeanor present but with a hint of something unreadable in his eyes.

"Well, this is quite the surprise," I said, trying to mask my surprise and confusion. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Linc's eyes met mine, and for a moment, it felt like time stood still. He didn't say much, just gave a brief nod. Nat excused herself, saying she needed to check on something.

Linc's presence was unexpected, and the entire situation felt oddly orchestrated. I couldn't help but wonder about the motives behind this dinner and what would come next.

Linc and I were left alone. The silence between us was thick, and I could feel the weight of unspoken words pressing down. Linc seemed to be wrestling with his thoughts, and I could see it in the way he kept glancing at me, as if searching for the right words. He cleared his throat, breaking the quiet.

"Sign," he finally said, his voice low and measured, "I wanted to start by apologizing. I know things ended badly between us, and I never really got the chance to make things right. I'm sorry for how everything turned out."

I was taken aback. It wasn't what I had expected from him. His voice was earnest, but his face remained as stoic as ever, a mask of composure hiding whatever turmoil he might be feeling. I took a moment to gather my thoughts, trying to steady my emotions.

"There's nothing to apologize for, Linc," I said, striving to keep my tone even. "I'm glad you've achieved your dreams and found success. That's something important, and I'm genuinely happy for you."

Linc's eyes softened, a flicker of something crossing his face before he masked it again. "Thank you, Sign. I appreciate that."

I forced a smile, feeling a pang of sadness. "And, to be honest, I'm doing okay now. Our relationship was brief—just two months—but I'm over it. It's no big deal."

Even as I spoke the words, they felt hollow. The truth was, despite the short duration of our relationship, the breakup had left a deep mark on me. I still remembered every moment, every feeling, and it hurt to admit that I hadn't moved on as completely as I'd like to pretend.

Linc's gaze remained steady, but I could sense a hidden intensity behind his impassive expression. "I'm glad you're okay," he said softly. "I hope you've found some peace."

I met his gaze, trying to communicate more than words could express. "I have. And it's good to see you again, even if it's under these circumstances."

Linc's eyes held mine for a moment longer than necessary, a silent conversation passing between us. He wanted to say more, I could tell, but the barriers he had built around his emotions were still firmly in place. He cleared his throat, shifting his gaze to the table.

"Yeah," he replied, a touch of the usual indifference in his voice. "It's good to see you too."

The conversation dwindled, and before long, the dinner wrapped up. As I walked back to my hotel, I felt a complex mix of emotions. Seeing Linc again had reopened old wounds, and the realization that we still had feelings for each other was both comforting and painful.

Despite his cold exterior, I knew Linc was hurting inside. His struggle to keep his emotions in check was evident, and it mirrored my own internal conflict. We both had feelings that were unresolved, but neither of us could bring ourselves to admit it, let alone act on it.

As I settled into bed, I couldn't shake the feeling that our meeting had been a bittersweet reminder of what once was and what might still be. Even if we couldn't say it out loud, the connection between us was still there, unspoken and persistent.