Chapter 20. The First Spark

Avery’s POV

I watched him anxiously, unsure if I’d succeeded in fulfilling his peculiar request. Seconds passed, and the anticipation gnawed at me. Then, he set the glass down gently and leaned back.

“This is...” He paused, his voice deep and smooth, carrying a weight that made my pulse quicken. “Unexpected.”

I blinked. “In a good way, I hope?”

His lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile, though the shadows of his hood obscured most of his expression. “Very much so.”

Relief washed over me, and I exhaled softly. “I’m glad to hear that. It’s not every day someone orders something so... abstract.”

He chuckled, a quiet, almost private sound. “Freedom is abstract, isn’t it? But you’ve managed to capture it quite well.”

For a moment, the world around us seemed to blur. His words held a weight that resonated deeply within me. It wasn’t just about the drink, it was about the concept itself, the journey I’d been on to define freedom for