Grace frowns at that, a small confusion bubbling up.
So... does that mean no?
Before she can dwell on it, another text from him pops up.
A warm smile crosses her lips as she reads it, and for a moment, she can almost hear Julian's low, nonchalant voice in her mind, just as she had when he sent the message.
"Okay, which book should I bring?" she mutters to herself, a feeling of excitement flickering within her.
Grace pushes herself off the bed, her feet landing softly on the floor. She walks over to her bookshelf, scanning the spines of the books. Without much thought, she picks up her favorite book
"I'm going to give him this today," she says to herself, a little smile tugging at her lips. But then, something flickers in her mind.
Oh, right… We promised to meet at the amusement park by 11 am.
The sudden realization makes her glance at the clock. She goes into the maps app, quickly checking the route. It's about a two-hour commute to the amusement park.
I need to hurry.
She sets the book down on her bed and rushes into the bathroom for a quick shower. Her mind is racing a little, but she keeps moving, determined not to be late. Standing in front of the mirror, she slathers on sunscreen, then adds a touch of lip oil for some quick hydration. She grabs a sky-blue short-sleeved t-shirt, layers a denim jacket on top, and slips into black stretchy pants. The entire process is rushed, but she's done before she knows it.
Her hair is still damp from the shower, but there's no time to style it. Grabbing her phone and AirPods, she heads out the door with a small flutter of excitement—today's going to be busy, but something about it feels right.
On the subway, she texts Julian back, her fingers moving quickly over the screen.
She hits send, her heart doing a small flip in her chest.
"Hey!" Grace calls out, her voice bubbling with cheer as she spots Harry near the entrance of the amusement park.
She waves, and Harry turns around with a bright smile that lights up his face.
"We're wearing matching clothes!" he exclaims, pointing to his denim jacket with a grin.
Grace looks at him, noticing the similarity between his outfit and hers.
"Stop copying me," she says, jokingly.
"Guess I've got good taste," he teases as the two of them walk into the park, the gates opening to reveal the bustling, colorful world inside.
From the moment they enter, Grace is practically bouncing with excitement, tugging Harry along as she drags him from one roller coaster to another. She's full of energy, her eyes gleaming with joy as she sprints to the next ride, pulling Harry along with her. Harry, while laughing, follows closely, his smile never fading, as he's amazed at just how much Grace loves these thrilling rides.
They make their way through the park, taking on four different roller coasters in a whirlwind. Finally, after the adrenaline rush of the rides, they find a bench where they sit down, catching their breath.
Looking out over the park, Grace sees a relatively quiet scene. The park isn't crowded, and the trees and whimsical decorations create a relaxing atmosphere, while parades and characters move past them in cheerful chaos.
"Wow, I sure made a good call asking you to the amusement park, given how much you love it," Harry comments, taking a big bite of his cotton candy.
He smiles at her, amused by how excited she's been throughout the day.
Grace takes a bite of her own cotton candy.
"It's really good to just run around, taking roller coasters and not thinking about anything serious," she says, the words coming out almost too easily, as if she's convincing herself.
Harry watches her carefully, noticing the slight shift in her tone.
His eyes soften as he asks, "Is there something serious going on in your life?"
Grace hesitates, the smile faltering for just a moment. She feels the weight of the situation press on her chest—the stress from the frauds and the impact it's having on her family. She doesn't want to drag Harry into that heaviness right now. With a small shrug, she quickly shifts her posture and changes the topic.
"How about we ride the Vikings next?" she suggests, pointing at the towering roller coaster in the distance, its sharp turns visible even from here.
Harry watches her closely but doesn't press. He notices the faint sorrow in her voice, the way she's trying to mask something deeper with her high-energy enthusiasm. He decides to let it slide for now, sensing she's not ready to talk about it.
"Sure, Vikings it is," he agrees with a supportive smile, nodding as he picks up his pace, matching her energy without pushing her boundaries.
Grace nods gratefully, relieved that Harry respects her silence and is happy to move forward. The two set off again, side by side, heading toward the next adventure.
Julian stares at the purple sky, the fading sunlight painting the world in soft hues of lavender and amber. It feels like the world is holding its breath, suspended between day and night, and for a moment, everything seems to slow down. The gentle breeze that tugs at his hair and brushes against his skin is a welcome change from the sterile air of the hospital room. He exhales deeply, feeling the weight of the day lift slightly from his shoulders.
With his left leg in a cast, Julian had to take it slow up to the rooftop terrace, but the view more than made up for the effort. Sitting on the bench, he feels the soft embrace of the late summer air, a mix of warmth from the dying sun and coolness from the approaching night.
Time passes quietly. He doesn't feel the rush of the world, only the peaceful silence that surrounds him. His mind drifts, but the thoughts that seem to find their way to the surface are always the same—thoughts of Grace. He checks his phone for the umpteenth time, half-expecting a message, but there's nothing new. No texts, no notifications from her.
A small sigh escapes his lips as he leans back against the bench, glancing at the horizon once again.
Why am I even waiting for her to come…
His thoughts are a mixture of frustration and helplessness. He knows he's being foolish, yet he can't shake the feeling of anticipation every time he checks his phone. Despite himself, he can't stop thinking about her.
A wry smile forms on his face, tinged with self-amusement.
It's funny, he thinks, that I only realized I liked her recently, and now it seems like my feelings for her are only growing stronger each day.
He can't quite understand how or when it happened, but it feels undeniable now. It's all consuming, this pull toward her, and though it excites him, it also unsettles him.
His gaze shifts down to the cast on his leg. It's still fresh, heavy, a constant reminder of the accident. And with it comes a flood of memories—memories of the time he spent with Grace and the strange, inexplicable connection he felt with her. He remembers the accident like it happened just moments ago, the way his instincts kicked in to protect her. But that's not all he remembers. His mind drifts to the past—the memories of her, the one who he once loved so deeply.
Hannah…
The name lingers in his mind, bittersweet. The pure smile that always warmed his heart, the way she used to look at him. She's still there, living in the corners of his heart, and Julian can't shake the feeling that he's betraying her somehow by feeling this way about Grace. It's almost as if they're connected in some strange way, their presence in his heart so similar that it makes him question everything.
His heart tightens at the thought, and he clenches his jaw. He tries to shake it off, but it's harder than he thought. The guilt is undeniable, but so is the pull he feels toward Grace. The conflict is tearing at him, and he can't escape it.
He stares at the sky once more, the last traces of sunlight fading as the world prepares for the night. It's quiet here, on the rooftop, and for a moment, he wonders if he'll ever find peace within himself again.
"No, no, don't move!" Hannah shouted as she brought the cup of water to the table in the dining room.
Julian laughed when he saw Hannah marching over with such an overreaction.
He couldn't help but smile whenever she acted so funny, even though she always seemed very nonchalant and casual.
"It's okay. I can walk," Julian said casually.
"Don't move until you're completely healed," Hannah said as she sat beside him on the couch.
Their arms brushed, and Julian tensed up immediately.
Hannah moved a little further away from the couch.
"I don't think you'll be fully healed before the next mission. When is it? Like next week? You know, I can go instead of you," she said, her eyes sparkling.
Julian looked at her with stern eyes, but his lips were already smiling.
"I'd rather be hurt twice than trust you on the mission," he said mischievously.
"No, I can really do it," she said, widening her eyes.