#Chapter 36: A Hopeful Effort
Abby

My fingers tap anxiously against the table as I dial Adam’s number. After a few rings, his voice, smooth

and deep, answers. “Hello?”

“Adam,” I start, trying to steady my voice, “It’s me.”

There’s a slight pause on the other end. “Hey, Abbs. What’s up?”

I take a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking ever since what happened the other night… we’ve been so

caught up lately with everything, and I thought maybe we could have a candlelit dinner tomorrow night.

Just the two of us. No distractions.”

Another pause. Then, a soft chuckle comes through. “Sounds… unexpected. But I’m in. Why not?”

The relief is immediate, but I need more assurance. Adam has been late or flaked on me way too many

times for me to take his initial word for it. “You promise you’ll be there? Eight o’clock?”

There’s a sigh from the other end. “Abby, you know I’m always busy, but if you want this, then yes, I

promise. I’ll be there.”

“But Adam,” I say, my voice quivering slightly, “I need you to really promise. Swear on it.”

“Okay, okay,” he laughs, the tone light, “I swear on it. I’ll be there.”

I can’t shake off a nagging feeling. “I just… I need this, Adam. I need to feel that connection again, that

it’s just you and me. No distractions. And I need you to be on time. It’s going to hurt me a lot if you’re

late or if you flake out on me.”

There’s a few moments of silence. Then, in a tender tone, he says, “Abby, I know we’ve had our ups

and downs, and I know I’ve been…preoccupied lately. But I promise I’ll be there tomorrow. I wouldn’t

miss it for the world.”

His words soothe the unease in my heart, at least for the moment. “Thank you, Adam,” I reply. “I just

want us to have a night where it’s all about us.”

He chuckles again. “It’s been a while since we had one of those, hasn’t it? I’m looking forward to it. Just

me, and a candlelit dinner. Sounds

of hope blossoming within. “It’ll be special. Just like

times, Abby. Tomorrow night, it’ll

bit more, laughing about some shared memories, planning a little for the dinner. And as

weight has been

where Adam and I rekindle the love that’s been

busy schedules. A chance

he’s brought back into

last thought drifts through my mind: Adam

Just show up, and everything might be

my eyes darting over the various dresses

special, a dress that would leave Adam speechless.

rush of perfume and the gentle hum of

Over here!” Chloe waves from one of the dressing rooms.

its shimmering fabric hugging

think?” she twirls, looking at herself in the full-length mirror. Her auburn

a stark contrast to the black

I need something to… reignite

“Say no more.” And with that,

past rows of soft silks and delicate laces, until she halts before

deep blue dress, its

Try this,” she

hands and pushes me into a dressing

my skin, and when I step out to

know what hit him,” she

“Thanks, Chloe. I

we need to remind our partners why they fell for us in the

has been transformed by the talented hands at

perfectly. My nails are painted a subtle

to the grocery store, I’m ready to prepare for

ingredients fills the air.

oil, a fine cut of beef, organic vegetables, and

vegetables, Chloe pops her

In the kitchen? Last time you tried to cook, we almost had to call the fire

smile. “Worth a

everything looks amazing.”

her into a quick hug. “Thanks

glow over the dining room as I light the

the silverware gleaming in

—romantic and intimate.

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