Cameron's eyes flitted over to rest on his face. He still looked the same as he had last time she'd seen him. He still had the short hair—she couldn't decide if she liked it better that way or not—and he was still handsome. Beautiful, even. During the lockdown he'd asked he if she ever loved him. She felt a pang in her heart as she remembers her initial answer. I don't know. How could she say that? She had always loved him and, she realized resignedly, she still did.

"You're staring at me," Chase said, his voice emotionless except for the hint of amusement. It made her smile, hearing him sound something other than sad.

She quickly looked away, her hair falling like a curtain to hide her reddening face. "Sorry."

She heard him give a soft, breathy laugh. "Sorry? You don't have to apologize."

"No, it's just... I don't really have a right to look at you like that anymore," Cameron whispered. She turned her head slightly so she could see him glance over at her. His eyes looked sad again. Their gazes met and she stared into his eyes for a few seconds before looking away. "Keep your eyes on the road," she murmured.

They reached the restaurant a few minutes later, and Cameron blinked in surprise when she realized where he'd taken her. It was the same place they'd gone on multiple dates, a nice little café with delicious sandwiches. "Really?" she asked, giving him an incredulous look.

Chase smiled in that way that made him look cute instead of sexy. "I like this restaurant," he said, then got out of the car.

He walked around and opened her door of her. He held out a hand to her, which she took. It almost felt like they were on a date again. "Always a gentleman, I see," she said, her eyes lighting up with the glimmer of a memory.

"Of course," Chase replied, leading the way to the front entrance. He opened the door for her, and she caught him gazing at her longingly out of the corner of her eye. It made her heart flutter.

They were seated at a table in the corner of the restaurant, near a window that showed the cars zooming by on the street outside. She found the stretching silent awkward, but when Chase finally broke it she found herself wishing he hadn't. "What happened between us?" he asked.

Cameron took a deep breath, in through her nose, out through her mouth. "Are we really going to do this again?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered, his voice holding no hesitation. "I have to know."

"We just didn't work out," she said. She knew her explanation sounded pathetic, and as she said it she wished she could take it back. She sighed. "Are we really going to repeat our last conversation?"

"Our last conversation was really never finished," Chase said, his voice taut. "We never had a normal goodbye. We said our farewell and then you seduced me into sleeping with you again."

"I didn't..." Cameron started, but he cut her off. "Yes, you did. I was ready to let go, but you obviously weren't."

She felt tears forming in her eyes, and she looked away from his angry face as she fought to get her emotions under control. "I never wanted to let you go," she said, forcing herself to look back at him.

Chase stared at her in a way that was making her feel small. "Then why did you?" he asked.

"I had to," she said softly. She paused and when she spoke again her voice was stronger. "I had to get away from PPTH, away from house. And you didn't want to come."

"So it had nothing to do with me, not really," Chase said. "It was just that I didn't want to leave my job."

She looked into his eyes; the look on his face caused a painful ache in her chest. "I'm sorry," she breathed. He held her gaze a moment longer before looking away.