*Michael*

Lauren had asked to meet at a neutral location, a surprisingly casual restaurant.

As soon as I opened the restaurant door, my heart began to race inside my chest. It felt like a lifetime since I’d seen her, yet it had only been months since the tumultuous conclusion of her and Blaine's attempt to remove me from the picture.

Gritting my teeth, I looked around the restaurant, expecting to find her as I had always known ...