mais smiled “Ol? Is that <b>so</b>? I don’t see it that way. If someone’s tomed you down once, chances are they’ll do it again. If there’s no spark, there’s no spark that somet who’s truly loved your once–thing can fall in love with your again. Love is just that shingle. You either do, or your <b>don’t</b><b>.</b>”


    Scott’s lips pressed into a hard line, his eyes dark and unfathomable, like a buttonless alyss


    “So confident,


    His voice turned cold. “And how exactly does a linent heal after being birken? When you give someone your whole heart and they


    shutter it <b>who’d </b>be foolish enough to offer them a second chance to freak it again ?“:


    <b>Sean’s </b>smile faded. He didn’t respond


    The elevator dinged and the dones slid open onto the basement parking lot.


    Sean stepped out first.


    Scott followed slowly. His expression was cold and unyielding


    Sem Jasper…we’ll see who wins in the end,” he muttered.


    After work on Friday, Charlotte packed u


    Lup and stepped out of her nttice–only


    He looked calm as usual. “Miss Hiley, there’s someiling, I think I should clear up. It’s been weighling on tun.”


    “What is it?” she <b>asked </b>


    The ce,” Scott said. “There’s a park nearby. Want to walk and talk?”


    Charlotte hesitated. He looked like he groinely sad something important to say. Arera ismert, sie padded. “Alright


    It was April, and the sum hadn’t quite set yet. Around six thirty, the golden luase of dusk was just beginning to fade, and the warm evening air hinted at the approach of summer


    Charlotte wore a light gray suit. Her long hair was fed buck, but a few loose strands danced around her face in the breese, adding a touch of effortless besty


    They walked side by side, Charlotte kept her eyes on the path ahead, unaware of the allection in Scott’s paze,


    “So,” she asked evenly, “what did you want to talk about?”


    “About what I mentionedst time–my and trying to set us up.”


    Charlotte paused slightly


    “I amver agreed with it,” Scott said with an apologetic smile. “She jumped to conclusions. I didn’t want to make things awkward between us, I value you as a business partner, and as a friend. I thought it was best to close the air,!!


    Charlotte let out a


    a barely noticeable breath of relief. “I’m d to hear that, I was worried..


    “Worried about wlur?”


    she said with a smile. “I’m just d we’re on the same page–business partners and friends.”


    to reach out to you again, feel free to tum her down,” Scott added. “There’s no need to be polite about it.”


    “Hey don’t you have a younger sister! Around Tiana’s ape?”


    kle “Want to introduce theen sometime? Kids need more yinates. We’re adults. It’s hard to rte to them the


    nodded. That made sense. Her sister Jodie was still in therapy. Maybe having a new friend would help her.


    “I’ll ask her,” Charlotte said. “She’s farm through a lottely. I want to <b>make </b>sure she’s ready to meet someone time.


    .25 Bonus