(Ava's POV)

I check my phone for the fifth time in twenty minutes. I always do, just in case there is an answer.

But there isn't.

I had no news from Sara directly. These past two months have been agony. I tried to distract myself, I tried to start over, focus on my projects… but everyine else was white noise if I couldn't find Sara's voice. I miss her very much.

I have been receiving news from Lauren, though. It seems Sara went off radar for some time, but Ray got to her eventually. They talked, she told him about me… and then they decided to carry on with the wedding.

Sara is living with Zari, though, she keeps her distance from everyone else.

Well of course, she is hurt.

I just wish I could be there to help her heal, to show her that I love her. Because I do. I can admit that to myself now.

Truth is, being here in my bar doesn't help me get over it. How could I, when "She's every woman" is playing in the background?

I close my eyes for a moment, whispering those meaningful lyrics to myself. Then a gentle cough startles me and I open my eyes to find Nora sitting at the bar in front of me.

"Hey." She says. Her face shows a mix of guilt and concern. I must look horrible from lack of sleep.

"Hey." I say.

We stay in silence for a few seconds. Despite being angry with my best friend, her presence is still comforting.

"So um… I am sorry, Ava." Nora started. Our eyes met. "I am sorry I didn't value your feelings the way you deserve."

I turn around for a moment to grab a bottle and pour two little glasses. She reaches out to grab one.

"You are my best friend, Ava. You've always been there for me, I should have been there for you. I was just… blind."

"And selfish." I add to the list.

"And selfish." Nora concedes, happy that I am talking to her. "Look what I did to you."

I grimace. "What? Do I look that awful?"

Nora chuckles at my expression. We both feel lighter and more relaxed now. "Well yeah…" she says. And then she turns serious again. "Do you have any news?"

"She's getting married." I say, and swallow all my drink in one move. Then I slam the glass on the table a little bit louder than I intended.

Nora searched for my eyes again. "You should go." She says.

I widen my eyes in surprise. "What for? To witness the worst moment of my life?"

"To give her the best chance of her life."

Here I am.

The woman who couldn't be tamed.

The woman who didn't care.

The woman whose heart was frozen.

The awesome Ava Sharpe.

Here I am.

Standing in front of the church where my brother is going to marry the woman I love.

What a journey.

What a revolution of feelings.

Seconds feel like minutes and minutes feel like hours.

I gathered the courage to come. To fight one last time for the purest love I have ever felt.

Please, please universe, let me have this chance.

(Sara's POV)

The day before the wedding I looked in the mirror in deep thought. I had a lot of time to think about this. This was the right thing to do. The one thing I was sure about before Ava Sharpe took me away from my path.

She took my hand and took me down a new path, full of color, flowers and butterflies in my stomach. I shook my head. My own path was safer. At least ai was sure it was real. And well, Ray loved me in the best way he could, he wasn't going to be a bad partner for life…

I got a text. I was going to check it in case it was Zari, but I froze when I saw Ava's name on the screen.

To be completely honest, my actions froze, but my heart accelerated and my body filled with warmth. So she still has that effect on me, huh?

I wondered if she would ever try to contact me again, for the mast two months she had been silent, giving me my own space, just waiting until I was ready to talk to her again… if I ever chose to do so. I was in awe of that respect.

Sara, this is Ava. I love you. And I will be outside tomorrow. Make sure you choose what makes you happy.

I dropped the phone on the bed with tears in my eyes.

And now, on the wedding day, I am having trouble to breathe. Zari is standing next to me, looking at me, and she knows. I can see in her eyes that she knows. I try asking her without words, is she really waiting outside? Should I take the chance? What if I make a mistake?

I have so many questions and so little time.

I turn around and see a woman dressed in blue walk inside the church. She looks at Ray, Ray looks at her. She's Nora.

I find Ray's eyes and we explore each other's thoughts. I see confusion and uncertainty. I see doubts and I also see understanding.

And just like that, I make my decision. No words at all, only heartbeat.

I throw my flowers away and run toward the door. I don't look back, I leave the fears behind me.

Sunlight strikes me when I step outside the church. My heart drops for an instant but then I find her, leaning on her car a few meters away.

She smiles, I smile and I swear the world stops for us. Our connection is still there, stronger than ever.

Not needing words either this time, I run into her arms.

There are a lot of things to talk about.

There are so many things to figure out.

But we will deal with them later.

Together.