The crisp autumn air in New York was filled with the scent of fallen leaves and the distant aroma of roasted chestnuts from street vendors. As Lukas and Macey strolled hand in hand through Central Park, they were surrounded by a stunning tapestry of reds, oranges, and yellows, the trees shedding their leaves like confetti from a forgotten celebration. Halloween had just passed, and remnants of decorations lingered in some corners of the park—an occasional pumpkin still clinging to its final days, remnants of cobwebs adorning trees like ghostly whispers.
“Can you believe we used to spend hours here?” Macey laughed as they approached a swing set, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. “I think we tried to build the biggest sandcastle in the world that one summer, and it ended up looking more like a pile of wet sand.”
Lukas chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through him as he watched her excitement. “Yeah, and I think we convinced ourselves it was a fortress. I can still picture us pretending to defend it from invading pirates,” he said, his mind drifting back to those carefree days.
Macey sat on one of the swings, her laughter ringing out as she kicked her legs, swinging higher. “Remember how we’d dare each other to jump off and see who could land farther?”
Lukas joined her, their legs pumping in tandem. “You always cheated by letting go too early!” he exclaimed, pretending to be offended.
“Hey, a win is a win!” she retorted playfully, her voice laced with joy. The air was filled with the sound of leaves crunching underfoot as they swung higher, lost in their shared memories.
As the laughter faded, a weight settled between them, the unspoken issues they had avoided looming like the dark clouds threatening rain in the distance. Lukas’s heart raced as he took a deep breath, realizing that the moment had come for the conversation they both dreaded.
“Macey,” he began hesitantly, his voice quieter than intended. “We should probably talk about… everything.”
Macey’s expression shifted from playful to serious, her brow furrowing as she met his gaze. “Yeah, I think we do. It’s just… I’m scared of reopening old wounds.”
“Me too,” Lukas admitted, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “But I think we’ve both changed since then. We owe it to ourselves to see if this can work again.”
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted them. “Lukas! Macey!” It was Nina, striding toward them with a smile that faltered when she noticed their closeness. Lukas’s heart sank, his stomach twisting uncomfortably as Nina approached.
“Hey, Nina! We were just catching up,” Lukas said, trying to keep his tone light.
Nina glanced between them, her smile wavering. “I didn’t realize you two were hanging out. It’s nice to see you both together again,” she said, her voice lacking its usual warmth.
“Yeah, it’s been a while,” Macey replied, attempting to match Nina’s enthusiasm but failing to hide her unease.
Nina’s gaze flickered between them, and Lukas could feel the tension thickening in the air. “Well, I should get going. I have some work to finish for Starlight,” she said, her tone suddenly distant. “But it was good to see you both.”
As Nina walked away, Lukas felt a mixture of guilt and concern. Her smile felt forced, a mask she wore to hide her true feelings, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was caught in the crossfire of something much deeper.
“Macey, do you think she’s okay?” Lukas asked, turning back to her, his heart heavy.
Macey nodded slowly, her eyes reflecting the same concern. “I don’t want to be the reason she feels bad. She’s always been there for us.”
YOU ARE READING
Late to Love
RomanceLukas and Nina have been friends since school, always sharing a close bond that carried them through the years. Now in their late twenties, they both work at a magazine publishing company. Lukas as an editor and Nina as a creative director. Over t...
