Chapter 207 Yes, Florida

Chapter 207 Yes, Florida
Chapter 207: Yes, Florida 

“Hi,” he said quietly.

Golden stared at him for half a second before answering. "Hi."

His eyes moved over her face carefully. "You look good."

“So do you.”

A faint smile touched his mouth. "Liar."

That almost made her laugh. Silence settled briefly between them. Just heavy with history.

“You disappeared,” she said finally.

Allan nodded once. "I needed to."

Golden studied him quietly. "For a while I thought something happened."

A faint smile crossed his face. “Something did happen.”

“What?”

He looked around the ballroom slowly before answering. “I got tired.”

Golden frowned slightly. "Tired of what?"

“Being angry,” he admitted softly.

That answer hit her unexpectedly. Allan glanced toward the stage where donors continued talking.

“I spent years trying to prove something,” he continued quietly. “To everyone. To myself.” He shrugged lightly. “Then one day it stopped mattering.”

Golden looked at him carefully. "You changed."

“So did you.”

She smiled faintly at that. Maybe they both had. 

Allan looked at her for another quiet second. "You seem happy."

Golden thought about the question carefully before answering. “I think I'm learning how to be.”

His expression softened slightly. “That’s good.”

There was no bitterness in his voice anymore. That surprised her most.

Golden glanced down briefly before speaking again.

“I heard you started funding rehabilitation centers.”

Allan nodded.

“And grief programs.”

Golden looked back at him slowly.

“For families too?”

“Yeah.”

The old Allan would never have done that. Not because he lacked kindness but because he used to run from pain instead of facing it. Now he looked like he finally understood it.

Golden felt emotion press quietly against her chest.

“I’m proud of you,” she admitted softly.

Allan looked away briefly after hearing that. Like the words affected him more than they should. When he looked back at her again, his eyes were gentler now.

“You were right, you know.”

“About what?”

“That money doesn’t fix emptiness.”

Golden smiled sadly. “No,” she said softly. “It doesn’t.”

Another silence settled between them. Warm this time. Nostalgic, painfully familiar. The orchestra music shifted softly in the ballroom.

Allan looked at her carefully. “I used to think losing you ruined my life.”

Golden’s breath caught slightly.

“But honestly?” he continued quietly. “I think loving you saved it.”

Her eyes watered before she could stop them. Not because she wanted him back, not because she regretted leaving. But because some loves marked people permanently, and maybe that was enough.

Allan noticed the tears immediately. "You okay?"

Golden laughed softly while wiping beneath her eyes.

“Yeah.”

He smiled faintly. “You still cry too easily.”

“And you still say annoying things.”

That made him laugh quietly. God. She had missed hearing that laugh. Not romantically, just humanly. Like hearing an old song you once loved too much.

An announcement called Golden toward the stage for her speech. She looked toward it briefly before back at Allan.

“I should go.”

Allan nodded.

Neither of them moved immediately. Then finally he stepped back slightly.

“Congratulations, Golden.”

She smiled softly. “Thank you.”

He looked at her one last time, and this time there was no desperation in his eyes. No chasing, no trying to win her back. Just love. Golden walked toward the stage slowly.

Halfway there, she turned back instinctively. Allan was still standing there watching her. Then he smiled faintly and looked away first. And somehow that hurt most of all.

Later that night, long after the speeches and applause ended, Golden stood alone outside the ballroom overlooking the water.

The Florida air felt cool against her skin.

Inside, laughter and music continued. Life continued. That was the strange thing about heartbreak. Even after it ended, life still found ways to move forward.

Golden closed her eyes briefly, then smiled sadly to herself. Maybe first love never dies. Maybe it simply changes shape.

She wrapped her coat tighter around herself as she walked toward the valet area, lost somewhere between old memories and whatever the future was supposed to become.

Then suddenly, headlights flashed toward her. A powerbike stopped directly in front of her with a sharp hum. Golden frowned immediately. The rider removed his helmet slowly.

Allan winked at her. Golden stared at him in disbelief. He looked entirely too pleased with himself.

“What are you doing?” she asked, trying not to laugh already.

Allan tilted his head slightly. “Get in.”

Golden blinked. “What?”

“Let’s go on a date.”

She laughed softly in complete disbelief. "We are not in university anymore."

Allan grinned slightly. "Funny enough, that's exactly where we’re going."

Golden folded her arms. "Allan."

“Ocean City University,” he continued calmly. “Class of 2026 Medicine and Surgery are graduating tonight.”

Golden’s expression shifted slightly. "And?"

“They’re honoring you.”

Her brows lifted. "What?"

“They invited you weeks ago,” Allan said. “Your assistant forgot to tell you because apparently she's incompetent.”

Golden narrowed her eyes immediately. "You're lying."

“I'm offended you think I'd lie while dressed this nicely.”

She laughed despite herself. Then frowned again at the bike. "And they sent you?"

Allan nodded proudly. "They specifically requested the legendary Allan Renshaw."

“You volunteered yourself.”

“Obviously.”

Golden shook her head slowly, smiling now whether she wanted to or not. Then she glanced at the powerbike again.

“With a powerbike?”

Allan shrugged casually. "It's left for me to choose the mode of transportation."

Golden laughed under her breath. Some things truly never changed. Allan held out the extra helmet toward her.

“You coming or not, Dr. Nixon?”

Golden stared at him for a few quiet seconds. At the familiar eyes, the familiar smile. The familiar feeling. Then finally, slowly, she took the helmet from him.

Allan smirked triumphantly. “I knew you still liked bad decisions.”

“Don't flatter yourself,” she muttered while putting on the helmet.

A second later she climbed onto the bike behind him. The moment the engine roared to life, Allan sped forward into the Florida night.

Golden gasped softly before instinctively wrapping her arms around him tightly, and Allan smiled to himself as they disappeared into the city lights together.