[1]The sun dipped low over the cliffs of Malibu, bathing the cabin in golden light.
[2] Inside, Hope Logan stood at the window, arms folded, watching the waves crash below.
[3] Behind her, footsteps approached softly—familiar ones.
[4] “You always find the best views,” Liam said, voice warm.
[5] Hope turned, a gentle smile forming. “You always find me.”
[6] Silence lingered, but it was the comfortable kind.
[7] Liam stepped closer, eyes locked with hers.
[8] “It’s been a journey, hasn’t it?” he said, half-laughing, half-sighing.
[9] “More like a rollercoaster,” Hope replied, chuckling.
[10] The tension that had shadowed them for months seemed to dissolve.
[11] “But somehow, we always circle back to each other,” Liam added.
[12] Hope’s eyes shimmered. “Maybe because we’re not finished yet.”
[13] He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
[14] The gesture was simple, but electric.
[15] “I never stopped loving you,” he said.
[16] Her voice trembled. “I know. And maybe… maybe I never stopped either.”
[17] They stood in silence, the past between them like a photo album left open.
[18] But the page was turning.
[19] Outside, the wind stirred the trees like applause.
[20] Liam took her hand, fingers interlacing with practiced ease.
[21] “Let’s stop running in circles,” he said. “Let’s move forward.”
[22] Hope hesitated—but only for a second.
[23] “Together?”
[24] “Always.”
[25] They leaned in, foreheads touching, sharing a breath.
[26] The moment felt quiet, but inside, everything shifted.
[27] No more doubts.
[28] No more maybe-somedays.
[29] Just them—here and now.
[30] And for the first time in a long time, that was enough.