Chapter 37. The Bar

Travis glanced at his watch, a slight quiver of anticipation running through his veins. He leaned casually against the polished mahogany counter of his friend’s bar, pretending to be engrossed in his phone while keeping a discreet eye on the entrance. The dim lighting cast a warm glow across the room, highlighting the polished brass fixtures and the subtle shimmer of glassware lining the shelves behind the bar. A faint hum of conversation and the soft clink of cocktail shakers created a steady rhythm, but Travis’s focus remained entirely on the door.

The entrance swung open, and Camila stepped in, her presence commanding the room even in understated elegance. The ambient light seemed to wrap around her like a halo, catching the soft waves of her dark hair and reflecting off the subtle shimmer of her dress. Even the patrons scattered across the bar couldn’t help but glance her way, drawn by an aura that seemed both approacha