The days that followed were a blur of family gatherings, laughter, and the constant hum of conversation, but Ella felt as though she were moving through a dream. Every time she and James were in the same room, she felt his presence like a magnet, pulling her in. Her mind replayed that midnight moment in the kitchen over and over—the warmth of his touch, the weight of his gaze, the unspoken words that lingered between them.
It was on the last evening of the reunion that she found herself wandering outside alone, drawn to the quiet of the garden under the fading light. She leaned against the old stone wall, her fingers tracing patterns in the rough stone as she tried to quiet the thoughts racing in her mind. She knew she should keep her distance, but a part of her didn't want to.
"Couldn't resist the garden, could you?"
The familiar voice made her heart skip. She turned to see James standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, a small smile tugging at his lips. He looked relaxed, but his eyes held that same intense focus she had seen in the kitchen.
"Some things never change," she replied softly, a smile forming despite herself.
He took a step closer, leaning against the wall beside her. The scent of his cologne mixed with the night air, and the nearness was almost overwhelming. Neither of them spoke, but Ella felt the pull between them growing stronger, like a taut thread ready to snap.
"I've missed this," James murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ella looked up at him, surprised. "You've missed...what?"
He smiled, a little sadly. "Us. This…whatever this is. I didn't realize how much I needed it until I came back." His gaze fell to her lips, lingering there just a second too long before meeting her eyes again.
The air felt thick, charged with something both thrilling and terrifying. Ella swallowed, aware of her pulse pounding, her mind a jumble of confusion and longing. She wanted to step back, to create the distance she knew they should maintain, but her feet refused to move.
"James," she said, her voice shaky, "we shouldn't—"
"I know," he interrupted, his hand reaching up, hesitating just before it brushed her cheek. "But sometimes…I feel like I don't have a choice."
She felt his fingers lightly graze her skin, a feather-light touch that sent a shiver down her spine. Her breath hitched as she leaned ever so slightly into his hand, her eyes slipping shut for just a moment. The world around them faded, leaving only the warmth of his hand, the sound of their shared breaths, and the undeniable pull drawing them closer.
When she opened her eyes, his face was mere inches from hers. His gaze held a question, a hesitation, as if he were waiting for her to say something, to give him a sign. Her heart raced, her mind screaming at her to turn away, but she found herself moving forward, closing the small gap between them.
Their lips were barely a breath apart, the tension so thick she could feel it in every cell of her body. She felt her heart pounding, her hands trembling as they moved to rest against his chest.
But in that moment, the sound of voices drifted from the house. They both froze, the reality crashing down on them like a wave, pulling them back from the edge.
James stepped back, running a hand through his hair, his expression a mixture of regret and something deeper, something unspoken. "I…I should go."
Ella nodded, her face flushed, her heart still racing. She watched as he walked back toward the house, leaving her alone under the dimming stars, wondering how close they had come to crossing a line she could never uncross.