Noah checked his watch for the third time as he stood outside the quiet restaurant. He hadn't expected Alexa to reach out so quickly after the courtroom chaos. The message she'd sent had been simple, almost casual: "Dinner? We should catch up. Just us."

When she walked in, it was as if no time had passed. Alexa carried herself with the same ease she had in high school, though now it was refined, elegance woven into her movements, a confidence that came from years of practice. Her hair gleamed ...