“Thanks.” Colleen took it without hesitation.

She watched as Hadley opened her boxed meal and started eating.

“You’ve been busy lately,” she said. “That’s a good thing.”

She paused, then asked, “So… are things better between you and Joy’s dad now?”

Hadley froze mid-bite. Slowly, she looked up. “How did you know?”

“Your brother told me,” Colleen said with a smile. “He gave me the full play-by-play of the proposal.”

“Right…” Hadley lowered her gaze, brows pinching together. Her voice dropped. “Do you think I’m being foolish?”

Most people wouldn’t understand. But Colleen knew exactly what Hadley had endured in Blathe—exactly because of Eric.

“Not at all.” Colleen blinked, then shook her head. “You’re not foolish. You’ve been through more than most, and I know this isn’t something you rushed into. You’ve thought it through—with your whole heart.”

Hadley felt her shoulders ease. The knot in her chest loosened.

After a beat, she said quietly, “He’s really good to me now. And to Joy. And most importantly…”

Colleen smirked, her tone light. “You still love him, don’t you?”

Color rose to Hadley’s cheeks.

She opened her mouth, hesitated, but eventually nodded. “Yeah.” She couldn’t lie—not to Colleen.

The boy she’d loved at fifteen… the one who’d held her first real feelings.

There was a time she thought that love was gone.

But after this past year… after everything they’d faced together… those feelings had stirred back to life.

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“Then that’s all that matters.” Colleen’s smile softened. “You’re not just doing this for Joy. You’re marrying the man you love. I’m really happy for you, Hadley. I mean it.”

She winked. “Marrying for love? That’s rare. You’re lucky.”

Hadley smiled, the gratitude in her eyes clear. “Thanks, Colleen.” Her friend’s support meant more than she could say.

“By the way…” Colleen tilted her head, her tone turning cautious. “Does he know what really happened to you in Blathe?”

Hadley paused. Then slowly, she shook her head. “No. Not yet.” She tapped her temple.

“He had a head injury and is still recovering. The doctor said he shouldn’t be upset or overly stressed right now.”

She let out a long breath. s ? ?s Find?Novel.net

“It’s been years… Doesn’t really matter that much anymore. Maybe one day, I’ll tell him everything. When the time’s right.”

Saturday night, seven o’clock.

Colleen pulled into the parking lot of Winterley Restaurant. Tonight, Hadley and Eric had invited her out for dinner.

The parking lot was packed.

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