I wanted Ella to be mine but I screwed it up. Not only did I lose my chance with her, but I also lost my best friend.

Ella

I wanted Asher and I to move past his confession. We’ve been friends for so long, we can get over anything, right?

Wrong.

Not only has our relationship fundamentally changed, but he disappears for a month and comes back to Harmony, engaged. Apparently, he rekindled his relationship with his high school girlfriend.

Gloria insists that I write the expose on their wedding. Asher’s fiancee is the daughter of the Mayor of New York City. It’s the kind of story that will restore the town’s trust in the paper after the Proctor disaster.

I try to be happy for Asher, I do. But he’s changing for his fiancee. Suddenly he doesn’t like things that he used to love. And the more time I spend with the happy couple, the more I begin to realize that maybe they don’t know each other as much as they are letting on.

Then everything changes when Asher and I kiss during a bachelor party game. That’s when I realize why I’ve been so unhappy. Problem is, I had my chance and I didn’t take it. And the thing with choices is, there’s no going back.

Willow

I didn’t think Cole Watkins would come back to the diner. I’d almost forgotten about him and his contract until he shows up a month later, ready to take his place as co-owner.

I hate that I have to answer to this man. This diner was my chance to make a new life for my son and Cole is getting in the way of that.

Until Jasper is sick and Cole hands me a container of homemade chicken noodle soup that he made. Or when I’m tired, and Cole takes over in a way my ex never did. And when he’s playing cars with my son? I feel my resolve to hate him forever start to soften.

As soon as I try to get closer to him, to learn about the man under the suit, he shuts me down. In that moment, I realize Cole is not here to be my friend. I need to protect myself and my son. I’ve been hurt once and I’m determined to never get hurt again.