Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 206

He paused mid-sentence, his gaze lingering on the little girl in front of him. She wore a face mask, but her eyes—clear and earnest—reminded him of someone from his past. For a moment, he was caught off guard.

“It’s not your fault. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” the little girl said. Her eyes crinkled up in a smile, and Charles could imagine the grin hidden beneath her mask.

Maybe it was the resemblance to someone he once knew, but Charles felt a pang of softness in his chest. “You’re waiting for your mom, aren’t you? How about I keep you company until she gets here?”

Despite her innocent appearance, the kid was surprisingly cautious. She shook her head immediately. “My mom said I shouldn’t stay alone with strange men.”

Charles chuckled. He’d changed out of his lab coat after work and was headed to a party, so without his usual professional look, he probably didn’t seem all that trustworthy.

They were standing near the nurses’ station. Charles handed her over to a nurse, gave a few instructions, and left.

He slid into his car and called Finley Walker back.

“Send me the address.”

Finley texted it over and hurried him along, saying everyone was just waiting on him.

Charles started the engine. “Don’t give me that—how can the party start when the birthday boy isn’t even there yet?”

Today was Daniel’s birthday.

For years now, Daniel Campbell hadn’t celebrated. Every year, their group chat would blow up with birthday wishes, but Daniel never responded. He just ignored it all.

Finley had thought about it and figured it probably had to do with Amelia. She’d left just days before Daniel’s birthday—that had to be textbook emotional trauma, didn’t it?

The more Finley thought about it, the more convinced he became. Three years had passed; if Amelia was going to come back, she would have by now. After all this time, it was clear she wasn’t coming back, and Daniel couldn’t just keep shutting himself off from the world. As his friend, Finley wanted to help him move on.

So he’d organized this birthday dinner without Daniel knowing. Everyone acted like it was just a casual get-together, planning to surprise him with a cake at the end.

The dinner was at a rooftop garden restaurant, stylish and cozy. Each booth was separated by lush greenery and fresh flowers, offering just enough privacy.

Charles bumped into Daniel at the entrance.

Finley groaned. “This is what I get for choosing my friends poorly.”

…

When Sophia Taylor answered the phone and heard Amelia’s voice, her heart skipped a beat. For a moment, she wondered if she was dreaming.

Amelia’s voice hadn’t changed. She called softly, “Sophia, it’s me.”

Sophia let out a shriek that echoed through her office.

“I can’t believe you actually came back!” The tears came as soon as she spoke, three years’ worth of emotion spilling out. “You just up and vanished—so carefree. Why are you back now?”

“To take you out to dinner,” Amelia replied, her eyes crinkling in a smile.

Sophia grabbed a tissue, dabbing at her tears. “Don’t think you can just waltz back in here. You’re treating me to the fanciest place in town—the garden restaurant. And I swear, I’m going to make you pay for every bite.”