Payton took a deep breath as he pushed his cart through the aisles of the small grocery store, the faint hum of an old radio playing in the background. It had been years since he'd last stepped foot in StarRune, yet everything felt eerily familiar. The neatly stocked shelves, the scent of fresh bread from the bakery section, and the way the cashier still smiled at customers like they were old friends.

He had told himself that moving back was the right choice. Owning a flower shop was a far cry from the suffocating office job he had left behind, but at least now, his days were filled with the scent of fresh blooms instead of the stale air of corporate meetings. It was supposed to be a new beginning, a fresh start.

Then he saw him. At first, he wasn't sure if his mind was playing tricks on him, but no—there he was, standing just a few feet away, scanning a shelf like nothing had changed. Like years hadn't passed. Like Payton hadn't spent countless nights wondering what it would be like to see him again. His grip on the cart tightened. His heart beat a little too fast. He should just keep walking, pretend he hadn't noticed, slip out before he saw him. That would be the smart thing to do.

But Payton had never been great at ignoring the past, especially when it was standing right in front of him. So, before he could talk himself out of it, he cleared his throat and muttered, "Hey... uh, long time no see." Awkward. Forced. Not at all how he wanted it to sound. He mentally kicked himself, but it was too late now. His ex had heard him. And as he turned to face him, Payton braced himself—for what, he wasn't sure. A cold stare? A polite nod? A conversation he wasn't ready to have? "You look... good?" Oh god, why did he sound like that?! He sounded so uncertain this was terrible!