Rayna arrived at the quiet rooftop bar ten minutes past the agreed time, her heart beating just a little faster than usual. The sun was already low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the city.
Her eyes scanned the small crowd, and then she saw him—Ethan, sitting by the glass railing, staring out into the skyline with his hands folded on the table.
He looked like he hadn't moved in a while and she couldn't help but wonder how long he'd been sitting there, waiting. Perhaps, he'd arrived earlier than the agreed time.
She approached slowly, careful not to let her thoughts overwhelm her. But that was hard, considering the wave of emotions still rolling inside her chest.
When she reached the table, Ethan looked up immediately. There was a flicker of relief in his eyes, and he stood halfway before sitting back down.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hey," she replied, pulling out the chair across from him and sitting down.
A brief silence settled between them, heavy and awkward.
