Rivals Redemption

chapter 87 : Rekindling embers

Rowan Cortez

As I watched Tina and Grace rejoin the party, something shifted in the air. Nash, who had been brooding in the corner most of the evening, suddenly stood up. His face was tense with a mix of emotions, and without another word, he started walking toward Grace.

I knew something was about to go down.

Tina glanced at me with concern, but I just gave her a nod, silently telling her to let it play out. Nash clearly had something he needed to say, and whatever it was, it was long overdue.

He stormed up to Grace, his voice cutting through the party chatter. "Grace, we need to talk. Now."

Grace blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard, but Nash wasn't giving her a chance to escape. "I've been an idiot," he continued, his tone raw with emotion. "I let things get out of hand, and I should've fought harder for us. I was angry, yeah, but it doesn't change how I feel about you."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable as everyone watched Nash confront Grace. Tina moved closer to me, her hand brushing mine, but our attention remained fixed on the unfolding scene.

Grace seemed hesitant, her eyes flickering with the vulnerability she had shared with Tina earlier. "Nash, it's not that simple. I-"

But Nash cut her off, his voice desperate now. "No, Grace, it *is* that simple. I love you. I've always loved you, and I should've been there for you. I shouldn't have let our problems tear us apart."

Grace's lip trembled as Nash took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "I don't care about the arguments or the distance or whatever happened between us. What I care about is fixing this, fixing *us*." His voice softened, but the intensity was still there. "I can't imagine my life without you, Grace."

For a moment, it looked like Grace might walk away, her hesitation clear. But then, in a bold move, Nash reached out, cupping her face in his hands, his next words almost a plea. "Don't give up on us, Grace. We can fix this. I'm not going anywhere."

And then, without warning, Nash kissed her. It wasn't a gentle kiss, but an urgent, aggressive one, full of all the pent-up frustration and longing that had been building between them for weeks. Grace's initial surprise faded as she slowly melted into him, her hands clutching his shirt as if she was afraid to let go.

The entire room watched, frozen in place, unsure whether to cheer or give them space. It was a public declaration, a raw moment of emotion that had been boiling under the surface for too long.

Just then, Louis and Sevia walked up, their expressions calm despite the intensity of the situation. Louis, ever the wise and grounded one, stepped in gently, offering a bit of advice in his cool, laid-back tone.

"You guys are passionate, that's clear," Louis said, placing a hand on Nash's shoulder after the kiss ended. "But remember, passion isn't everything. It's about understanding each other, communicating. You two are strong, but strength doesn't come from fighting each other-it comes from working together."

Sevia, always full of love and empathy, added softly, "Relationships are hard, and they take time. But if you both want to make it work, you have to be willing to meet each other halfway. You can't fix things overnight, but taking small steps is better than letting it all fall apart."

Grace, still holding onto Nash, looked between Louis and Sevia with tearful eyes. "I don't know if we can fix everything."

"You don't have to fix everything all at once," Sevia assured her, her voice gentle. "But you can start by talking, really talking. You've both been through a lot, but if the love is still there-and clearly, it is-then that's the most important thing."

Nash nodded, his hand still resting on Grace's waist. "I'll do whatever it takes, Grace. Just... don't walk away."

Grace glanced at Tina for reassurance, and with a subtle smile, Tina gave her an encouraging nod. Slowly, Grace turned back to Nash, her voice quiet but firm. "Okay. Let's try."

There was a collective exhale from the crowd as Nash and Grace shared a softer, more meaningful kiss this time-one filled with hope rather than desperation. It was clear they had a long way to go, but for now, they had taken the first step toward healing.

As the tension eased, the party atmosphere started to return, people slowly resuming their conversations, though many still cast glances at Nash and Grace, curious about what would happen next.

Tina leaned into me, her eyes bright with pride and relief for her friends. I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her close as we watched Nash and Grace begin to mend the pieces of their relationship, one conversation at a time.