Chapter 2

Years ago, Ethan was just a kid, all heart and clumsy limbs.

Ava Harrison was Chloe' s friend, a few years older, already dazzling.

She walked into a room, and sunlight seemed to follow her.

Ethan fell, hard and fast.

Unrequited, of course.

Ava knew. She was kind, in a distant, amused way.

She enjoyed the worship in his eyes.

But her gaze was always on Julian Vance.

Julian, with his easy charm and expensive car.

Ethan wrote songs for Ava, pouring his teenage soul into every note.

He' d play them for her, voice cracking.

She' d smile, a little too brightly.

"That's sweet, Ethan."

One afternoon, he gathered all his courage.

"Ava, I really like you."

She laughed, a light, tinkling sound.

"Oh, Ethan. You're adorable."

Then, the promise, the one he clung to.

"When you' re 21 and can legally buy me a fancy cocktail at The Continental Club, maybe we' ll talk, kid."

He wasn't a kid, not really. But to her, he was.

That sentence became his lifeline.

His future.

He imagined that night countless times.

Him, older, confident. Her, finally seeing him.

He practiced ordering that fancy cocktail in his head.

He wrote more songs, better songs, all for her.

Chloe watched him, a worried frown on her face.

"Ethan, she's... Ava's Ava."

He didn't understand what she meant then.

He just knew he had a deadline.

A magical age when everything would change.

Twenty-one. The Continental Club. Ava.

It was a perfect dream.

He' d make it real. He had to.

Julian was always around, a shadow over his dream.

Ava would light up when Julian appeared.

Ethan would fade into the background, his guitar his only comfort.

He didn' t care. Julian was temporary.

His love was forever. That's what he believed.

He was young. He was a fool. But he was a determined fool.