Time slipped by in a blur, and before Alex knew it, several days had passed.
The rhythm of her life had settled into something close to normal again. There were no surprise visits from Chad or Ellen, and Karen had vanished just as quickly as she appeared.
Only one thing still tugged at her mind—Julian.
Something about him was different. She couldn't explain it. He smiled the same, joked the same, and yet, she could sense there was something bothering him.
Every time she asked, he brushed it off with a wave and a practiced grin. Still, the feeling lingered.
Since the karaoke night, she had buried herself in her work. She and Willa worked around the clock, desperate to get things set up on time.
With the reunion drawing closer, she had errands to run. The mall was her next stop to pick up some final decor pieces. But she didn't want to go alone.
She stepped out of her room and stopped in front of Julian's door.
"Julian?" She called softly, giving the door a light knock
