I laughed, smoothing the matching table runner. "What can I say? He calls me his sunshine. I think he takes it a bit too literally."
My house was bathed in golden yellows and soft creams—sunflowers everywhere. It was sweet, really. Over the years, Aaron had taken my nickname and built a little world around it. My friends teased me about it constantly, but I loved it.
December had dropped by with a list in one hand and a protein bar in the other. "I came to check if you need anything for the wedding. May and Jan are handling the invites, and I'm on cake-tasting duty, which, frankly, I think I won."
I smiled, touched. "You're all amazing. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you guys."
We were only a few weeks away now. Everything was falling into place. I had the man I loved, a home we built together, a dance studio he had practically made with his bare hands, and a future that felt golden—just like my living room.
The front door opened. Aaron's voice rang out. "I brought coffee!"
December stood up quickly. "And that's my cue to go." She winked. "Enjoy your caffeinated fiancé."
She left just as Aaron walked in, grinning with a coffee tray in hand. He kissed the top of my head, handed me my cup—extra cinnamon, just how I liked it—and then sat beside me, suddenly... quiet.
"Everything okay?" I asked, studying his face.
"Yeah. Yeah, just—something weird happened." He ran a hand through his hair, then looked at me with that sheepish, guilty look he only wore when he thought he might upset me. "I got a message today. From Selene."
I blinked. "Selene?"
"My high school girlfriend. You remember—I told you about her once. We were together for a few years. She left for college. I haven't heard from her in, like, forever."
He paused, waiting for my reaction. I gave him nothing. Just listened.
"She wants to catch up. Just... talk. See how life's been."
My stomach clenched. There was no logical reason for it. But something felt off. Heavy.
"You want to go?" I asked softly.
"I thought about it. I don't know. I was going to say no. But it's just coffee, right? Nothing weird. I just thought it might be nice to close that chapter or... whatever."
I couldn't speak at first. My mouth had gone dry.
He leaned in, brushing his fingers along my jaw. "But if you don't want me to, I won't go. I promise. You say the word."
I looked at him, at the man I'd loved for years. The man who'd supported every dream I had, who'd made me feel safe and adored. I couldn't let one message make me insecure. That wasn't who I was. That wasn't who we were.
So I smiled and shook my head. "No, it's okay. It would be ridiculous of me to say no. You should go."
He smiled, pulled me into his arms, and kissed my forehead.
But as he held me, I couldn't shake the weight pressing down on my chest.
That night, he went to see her. And I went to the studio he built for me—walls covered in mirrors and lined with tiny ballet shoes. I taught kids how to leap, how to spin, how to hold their heads high. My studio always smelled like wood polish andlavender. The mirrors gleamed, and sunlight poured through the windows, bouncing off the polished floors like warm little halos. Kids had just finished their class—giggling, still in their tutus and sneakers, waving goodbye to Miss June. I cleaned up the ribbons and glitter like I always did, humming under my breath, trying to keep my mind blank. I didn't want to think about Aaron and Selene. I didn't want to give that voice in my head another inch of space.
"Earth to Sunshine."
I looked up to see Leo leaning against the doorway to the main studio, sipping from his water bottle.
He was tall, dark-haired, charming in that disarming, playful way. We'd danced together for years—partner showcases, recitals, some small competitions—and he was good. Ridiculously good. The kind of partner that made you feel lighter, stronger, better.
"Sorry," I said, grabbing a towel and tossing it at him. "Zoned out."
He caught it with a grin. "Zoning out during a samba rehearsal? Wow. I'm hurt."
I rolled my eyes. "We're not rehearsing today, Leo. You just showed up because you're addicted to the sound of your own heels on my floors."
