Prologue: The Beginning of Something New
Emma's POV
It was 1 a.m., and I found myself staring at the dating app on my phone. I wasn't sure why I'd even downloaded it again. It wasn't like I hadn't tried this before. I'd lost count of how many times I'd signed up, chatted with someone who seemed nice, only for them to ghost me when they saw my picture. After a while, you start to wonder if there's something wrong with you.
But that night, I was tired of feeling alone. I told myself it was worth one more shot. Maybe I'd find someone who would actually see me, not just a picture on a screen.
And then, there was Lucas.
His profile was different. It didn't have the usual flashy photos or long lists of accomplishments. Instead, there was a picture of him sitting next to an old motorcycle, and his bio simply read, "Restoring old things, finding new adventures." I liked the sound of that—of someone who saw value in the things others might overlook. I swiped right, figuring I didn't have much to lose.
