- wholesome
- sad
- and ur name is gonna be evelyn
- super long
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Evelyn hadn't been back in town for years. The same cracked sidewalks, the same corner bakery, the same sleepy calm she used to hate—it all felt different now. Quieter. Smaller. Maybe because she wasn't the same girl who had left.
Her parents were already seated at the restaurant, laughing about something as she walked in. She smiled, sliding into the booth, trying not to feel out of place.
And then the world stopped.
"Hi, I'll be your server tonight. Can I get you—"
His voice. She knew it before she saw him.
Vinnie.
He blinked when he saw her. For a second, he didn't say a word. His eyes traced over her features like he was trying to remember every piece all over again.
"Evelyn," he said softly.
She smiled, nervous. "Hi, Vinnie."
But his eyes dropped to her left hand. The glint of her wedding ring caught the dim light, and his jaw tightened, just slightly.
"I'll give you a minute," he said, clearing his throat and walking away, but not before she caught the way his hand lingered near his chest, like it hurt just to breathe.
Her mother leaned over and whispered, "That was Vinnie? He works here?"
Evelyn could only nod, staring after him. The dinner ended like nothing had happened—like hearts hadn't nearly restarted at the sight of each other.
Her parents hugged her goodbye with warm smiles and light conversation, but Evelyn's hands trembled slightly when she waved them off and turned back to her wine glass. She stayed put, right in the booth by the window, swirling the deep red liquid in slow circles. The buzz of voices quieted, the lights dimmed lower, chairs scraped across the floor as people left. But she stayed.
Vinnie didn't even know she was still there.
He came out from the back with a mop in one hand and a towel thrown over his shoulder, only to freeze mid-step when he saw her.
She hadn't moved. She just lifted her head and looked at him.
"You're still here?" he asked, his voice cautious.
She nodded, setting her glass down gently. "Yeah."
His eyes flicked toward the front doors. "We closed twenty minutes ago."
"I know."
He walked over slowly, unsure. His shirt sleeves were rolled up now, tattoos exposed, and his hair was messier than it was when she came in. He dropped into the seat across from her, exhausted but unable to stop staring at her like he couldn't believe she was real.
"I'm not married," she said quietly.
Vinnie blinked. "You're not?"
She lifted her hand and twisted the ring. "Just engaged."
A beat of silence.
"Why?" he asked, like it slipped out before he could think.
Evelyn's mouth curled into a sad smile. "Because he reminded me of you."
Vinnie looked away, rubbing a hand over his face. "That's not fair to either of you."
"I know," she whispered. "But I tried moving on, Vin. I did. It just... nothing felt the same. He looked like you. Had your build. Same sense of humor. But he wasn't you."
