Golden Horizon: The Sea's Secret

Parting Words

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Ashton sat through his meeting, his mind far from the numbers and strategies being discussed around him. He nodded when necessary, and responded when prompted, but in truth, his thoughts were consumed by Emma. He had been planning this for weeks—thinking of the perfect way to tell her how he felt, the perfect moment to finally confess. He knew it was time; he couldn't keep his feelings hidden any longer. Not when every fiber of his being was drawn to her. The idea of losing her now was unbearable.

When the meeting finally ended, Ashton returned to his office, his heart pounding with anticipation. He was ready to make the call, to ask Emma if they could meet later that evening. But just as he was about to dial her number, his phone buzzed with an incoming text.

It was from Icy.
"Jake's back and Emma ran into him this afternoon."

Ashton stared at the screen, the words blurring as the reality of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks. Jake. The one person who had always been a lingering shadow in the background, a name that carried the weight of Emma's past and the threat to his future with her. He had known the possibility of Jake returning was always there, but he hadn't been prepared for it to happen now—not when he was so close to confessing everything.

He leaned back in his chair, his hand gripping the phone tightly. The image of Emma and Jake meeting again flashed through his mind, and the thought was enough to make his heart sink. Everything he had feared, everything he had tried to push aside, was now crashing in on him like a relentless storm. The idea of losing Emma to Jake again, of not having the chance to tell her how he felt, was a pain he couldn't bear.

Before he could even process Icy's message, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was from Ryan.
"Bro, I heard from Jess that Emma will be meeting Jake tonight."

Ashton felt a jolt of panic. Tonight? They were meeting tonight? The finality of those words hit him hard. Emma and Jake were going to talk, and who knew what could happen in that conversation? What if Jake still had feelings for her? What if Emma did too? The uncertainty gnawed at him, leaving him feeling more helpless than he had ever felt before.

He stood up, pacing his office, trying to think clearly, but all he could focus on was the overwhelming fear of losing her. He had waited too long, held back too much, and now, it might be too late. The thought tore at him, unraveling the careful resolve he had built.

Ashton knew he had to act, but he didn't know what to do. Should he call Emma now, before she met Jake? Should he tell her everything? Or should he wait and hope that whatever happened between them tonight wouldn't change what he was planning to do?

The minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. Finally, Ashton made a decision. He grabbed his keys and headed out of the office, his mind set on finding Emma. He couldn't let this night pass without letting her know how he felt. He couldn't lose her to the past. Not without a fight.

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Emma parked her car at Rivertown Caffeine Central, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The familiar façade of the café loomed ahead, a place that held so many memories—memories that now stirred a mix of emotions she wasn't sure she was ready to face. Her head rested against the steering wheel as she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had thought about this meeting with Jake for hours, turning over every possible scenario in her mind. But now, sitting in the parking lot, all she could feel was uncertainty.

Minutes passed, and finally, with a long sigh, she decided it was time. She couldn't sit in her car forever. Gathering her courage, she stepped out, the cool evening air brushing against her skin. She walked slowly toward the café, each step heavy with the weight of the past. As she reached the door, she hesitated for a moment, then pushed it open.

Inside, the familiar scent of coffee beans and warm pastries filled the air. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on Jake. He was sitting at the same table where they had said their painful goodbyes three years ago. The memory of that night in Hawaii also echoed through her mind. A lot had happened between them.

Jake noticed her the moment she stepped inside. He stood up as she approached, his eyes never leaving her. The years had changed him—he looked more mature, his demeanor more grounded—but the familiarity of his presence was undeniable.

"Emma," Jake greeted her softly, guiding her to her seat. "Thanks for coming."

Emma nodded, her voice caught in her throat for a moment. "Thanks," she managed to say as she sat down.

Jake offered a small smile. "What would you like to order? Coffee?"

"Just a hot black coffee," Emma replied, returning his smile faintly.

Jake studied her for a moment, and she could sense the question in his gaze. She answered it before he could ask. "I stopped drinking lattes when I moved to New York. Black coffee became my go-to."

Jake nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, right. Any food you'd like to order?"

"Just coffee, Jake," Emma repeated, trying to ease the tension with a smile.

Jake called the waiter and placed their orders. Emma noticed that he still ordered a hot latte for himself. A smile tugged at her lips at the realization that some things about Jake hadn't changed.

Jake noticed her smile and asked, "So, how have you been?"

"I'm doing great, actually," Emma replied, her voice filled with a mix of pride and nostalgia. "I'm opening my first café restaurant the day after tomorrow."

Jake's eyes lit up with surprise and admiration. "Oh, so you're the owner of that café near the beach up north? I've been hearing about it."

"Yeah," Emma confirmed, feeling a rush of emotions as she thought about the café and all the memories tied to it. "It's always been one of my dreams. Coffee and the beach—they've always been close to my heart."

Jake nodded, a distant look in his eyes. "I remember how excited you were planning that dream. You always talked about it."

Hearing Jake recall their shared dreams brought a bittersweet ache to Emma's heart. So much had changed, yet the memories were still vivid, lingering like shadows in the corners of her mind. However, those memories were blocked by the pain of what he did when they got back together in New York. How he hurt her