Prologue

Bella POV:

"Xavier's here," called Amari's mom, Elizabeth, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and apprehension, standing by the window. I hadn't seen Xavier in three months, and I suppose it's for the best. He wasn't exactly a fun person to be around when Amari died. It had only been six months since that day, and the weight of the loss still hung heavy on all of us. Sometimes, I felt like Elizabeth forced these little get-togethers so we could all talk freely about Amari. Today, though, it was an exception because it was Amari's 19th birthday.

The door swung open, revealing Xavier wearing a leather jacket, a black top, and dark jeans. He was carrying a duffel bag, and in his left hand, he held a picture of him and Amari on their wedding day, a bittersweet smile on his lips.

Just the thought of that day made me feel sick. I clutched tighter onto my martini glass, my fingers trembling, feeling like I might need something stronger to get through this day. The memories flooded back, and a mix of sorrow and anger washed over me, threatening to drown my senses.

Taking a sip, I looked back up to see Daniel. The last time I saw him was at Amari's funeral and then again at the last get-together before Xavier went to rehab. But looking at him now, I almost choked on my martini.

Could someone really transform so drastically in just three months? His hair was a lot darker and slightly longer. He wore a fitted dark grey t-shirt, his arms exposed and revealing a plethora of tattoos covering his left arm. His right arm still bore the same tattoos. My gaze traveled down to the jeans he was wearing, and I wished I hadn't because, damn, his thighs looked great.

Was I supposed to have transformed too? Clearly, I didn't get the memo. I still looked the same, not to mention I was currently wearing a beige cardigan sweater dress. As for my hair, I had just applied dry shampoo, but now I wished I had washed and curled it.

"Hi, Elizabeth," Xavier said, his voice warm as he approached her. Elizabeth's face lit up with a genuine smile, and she walked towards him with open arms. They shared a brief moment, and I couldn't help but notice the lingering sadness in Xavier's eyes, hidden behind his attempt at a cheerful facade.

"Xavier, hi," I said softly, my voice carrying a mix of politeness and caution as I stepped closer to him. Our history was a tapestry of complex emotions, and today was no exception. I hesitated, contemplating a hug, but the distance between us felt like an unspoken agreement. Instead, I extended my hand, and he met it with a firm handshake. His grip was strong, and for a moment, I felt the weight of our shared history in that touch.

As I pulled my hand away, I took a deliberate sip of my martini, trying to mask the underlying tension. The room seemed to buzz with conversation, but Daniel's intense gaze remained fixed on me. His eyes, usually so expressive, now held a storm of conflicting emotions, and I found myself momentarily captivated by their complexity.

"Bella," he said formally, his tone carrying a hint of something more, a subtle undercurrent of unspoken words.

"Hi, Daniel," I said, attempting to turn away, but he grabbed my arm, causing me to almost spill my martini.

"Jeez, what the hell?" I growled at him, and he tensed.

"Why haven't you answered my calls or texts?" he questioned, his voice edged with anger, a rare emotion for him.

"I changed my number," I replied nonchalantly, trying to remain composed, but his grip on my arm tightened.

"And you didn't think to tell me," he growled. I was about to respond, but Elizabeth's voice interrupted us, calling us over to the table.

"I want to say thank you to Xavier for letting us have the celebration here. Amari would have been so happy," she said, her eyes starting to water. She cleared her throat, and a big smile made its way to her face.

"But I'm glad that Amari brought you kids to me, and I just feel like a mom again," she continued, her voice filled with warmth and gratitude. I couldn't hold back a sob, moved by her words. I walked over to her, wrapping my arm around her. Resting my head on her shoulder, she placed her head on mine, a silent moment of shared understanding and love.

"But, uhm, today is to celebrate Xavier getting out of rehab," Elizabeth said, her voice becoming more cheerful. We all leaned in at the table, picking up pre-poured glasses of champagne.

"To new beginnings," I said, my voice shaky, and they all turned to me with wary smiles.

"To new beginnings," we all said in unison, the words hanging in the air as we clicked our glasses together.

After that, we cut the cake and listened to music, engaging in light-hearted conversations about how everyone had been doing during these months apart. Once Xavier and Elizabeth started reminiscing about Amari, bringing up old pictures and memories, I excused myself, telling them I had group therapy. They all nodded understanding, but Daniel glared at me because he knew I was lying.

Okay, look, I'm supposed to be going to group therapy, but I just have better things to do.