Bound By The Moons

me back to my childhood. Portwood hadn't changed much in the years I'd been away. The same cobblestone streets

. Returning home after so many years was surreal, especially under these circumstances. A sabbatical from the university had seemed like

lled out, pulling

a grin that could light up the darkest room. His sandy hair was tousle

" he said, his voic

ied, hugging him back.

length to study me. "You look the sa

at your way of sa

abbing my suitcase. "Come

he friendly faces, the sense of community-it was all still here. Yet, there was something else, somethin

?" I asked, sliding in

engine. "Same old, same old. Work

?" I asked, tryin

playing on his lips. "Still broo

s. "Some things

er to me-albeit a very aloof and enigmatic one. I hadn't seen him in years, not since I left for coll

ut you," Grant said,

ed, feigning

's looking forwar

ts of my hometown passed by. The thought of seeing Lucien aga

rch and flower boxes in the windows. It looked just as I remembered, a c

nt said, grabbing my s

-baked cookies wafting through the air. "

was Mom. She insisted o

by the gesture. "T

. Yet, beneath it all, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. There

eard the front door open and voices in the hallway. I st

rning to face me. "

ide him was

er, broader, with an air of quiet confidence that hadn't been there before. His dark h

oice smooth and rich.

trying to keep my v

s our fingers touched, a jolt of electric

e said, his gaze

whispered, unab

y return to Portwood was goin