Chapter 23

The women bantered, taking photos and clinking glasses, filling the private room with happy laughter. Joseph sat in a corner, a glass of whiskey in his hand, though he barely took more than a sip. His gaze was soft as he watched Willow laughing without a care among the others. She'd gone home to change into a burgundy slip dress. Her cheeks flushed with a tipsy glow, looking breathtakingly beautiful under the lights. It reminded Joseph of the Willow from college. Back then, she'd always sat quietly in a corner of the library, sunlight streaming through the window onto her focused profile. Joseph had to rack his brain for conversation starters every time he "bumped" into Willow, but she would only respond politely before burying her nose back into her books. But one day, he saw her chasing after Chad across the sports field, wearing the brightest smile he'd ever seen. Joseph had thought of confessing. He had finally built some success for himself in the year they graduated. But