The Allure of Love

chapter 23

The remainder of Alumni Weekend seemed to pass in a whirl of nostalgia-soaked revelry and increasingly complicated feelings for Anastasia. Between the boisterous tailgates, wandering old haunts with her friends, and catching up on everyone's post-grad trajectories, she found herself stealing more and more glances at Chris when she thought no one else was looking.

It was as if some invisible tether kept drawing her gaze back to him, no matter how much she tried to force her attention onto Jack or the merry antics of their group. Every time their eyes would meet, even just for the briefest flicker, Anastasia felt that familiar spark reignite in her chest—the one she had been trying so hard to ignore since their charged reunion.

She could tell Chris felt it too, though he was clearly making a valiant effort to maintain a friendly but respectful distance. Gone were the easy casual touches and inside jokes that had once flowed so naturally between them. Instead, a palpable tension thrummed in the scant spaces where their hands or shoulders would accidentally brush against each other.

It all came to a head on the final night of the weekend, at the big gala event the alumni association had arranged. Anastasia had agonized for weeks over finding the perfect dress—a sleek, curve-hugging number in a rich jewel tone that made her eyes sparkle. She knew it was more than a little foolish to be placing so much importance on a single outfit, but some small part of her needed Chris to see her at her most radiant and confident.

As she descended the stairs into the ballroom on Jack's arm, Anastasia could feel the weight of Chris's stare boring into her from across the room. When their gazes finally locked, she could have sworn she saw his breath catch in his throat, a flicker of unguarded longing dancing behind his eyes.

The moment was broken as Sam and Josh descended on them, pulling the couple into a crushing bear hug and babbling enthusiastically about the open bar. Anastasia allowed herself to be swept up in their infectious energy, determined to shake off the butterflies that had taken root in her stomach.

As the night wore on and the champagne flowed freely, she found herself growing increasingly light-headed—and not just from the bubbly. Every time she would glance over at Chris, laughing carelessly at something Josh had said or looking devastatingly handsome in his fitted suit, Anastasia felt like her heart might pound straight out of her chest.

"You okay, babe?" Jack murmured in her ear at one point, brow furrowed in concern. "You've seemed a bit distracted all evening."

Anastasia quickly plastered on what she hoped was a convincing smile, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. "I'm fine, just a little overwhelmed by all the festivities," she lied smoothly. "It's been a lot to process, being back here after so long."

Jack seemed to accept this explanation, pressing a quick kiss to her temple before getting pulled back into conversation with Sam. Anastasia felt a sharp twist of guilt in her gut at the deception, hating herself for being anything less than fully present with this wonderful man who had swept into her life and stolen her heart.

But as the night wound down and their friends began to disperse, Anastasia found herself lingering by the bar, reluctant to let the magic of the evening fade away. She was so lost in her own swirling thoughts that she didn't even notice Chris approaching until he was right beside her, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off his body.

"Hey," he said softly, voice low and intimate in a way that sent shivers racing down her spine. "I just wanted to say...you look absolutely breathtaking tonight, Annie."

Anastasia's heart stuttered at the sound of her old nickname falling from his lips, a forbidden intimacy that felt both thrilling and dangerous. She knew she should put some distance between them, make her excuses and go find Jack...but she couldn't seem to make her feet move.

"Chris..." she breathed, his name escaping her lips like a prayer and a plea all at once.

His eyes darkened as he gazed down at her, and for a moment, Anastasia was sure he was going to kiss her. Every nerve ending in her body was screaming for it, yearning to feel his hands on her skin and his mouth slanting over hers with the passion she now realized had never truly died.

But then the spell was broken by a burst of raucous laughter from across the room, startling them both back to reality. Chris took a hasty step back, running a hand through his hair as he let out a shaky breath.

"I should go," he muttered, not quite meeting her eyes. "It was really good to see you, Annie. Take care of yourself, okay?"

Before Anastasia could form a response, he had turned and melted back into the crowd, leaving her alone with the shattered pieces of her composure. She stood there frozen for a long moment, heart racing and head spinning as she tried to process the tidal wave of emotions crashing over her.

What was she doing? She had a wonderful, adoring boyfriend who would move mountains to make her happy. A man who challenged and inspired her, who shared her thirst for adventure and new horizons.

And yet...standing there in the middle of that crowded ballroom, Anastasia couldn't shake the bone-deep certainty that she would never feel for anyone else the way she felt for Chris. He was her anchor, her true north—the one person in the world who saw and understood every facet of her soul.

Tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, Anastasia forced herself to take a deep, steadying breath. She couldn't keep living suspended between two worlds like this, torn between the great love of her past and the exhilarating promise of her future.

One way or another, she knew, a decision had to be made. And it was one that would change the course of her life forever.