The evening air in Florittle was heavy with the scent of blooming jacarandas as the sun dipped low, painting the sky in soft hues of orange and purple.
Stefan stepped off the plane, his sunglasses tucked away, the fatigue from the long flight etched on his face. His heart pounded harder the moment his shoes touched solid ground. He was here—for her. For Ruby.
He sighed. Being here was one thing but finding her was another. Where could she be in this vast city of Florittle? He mused as he looked around.
Scanning the arrivals area, he spotted Ethan standing near a pillar, dressed casually in jeans and a grey T-shirt, waving a little too enthusiastically.
A faint smile tugged at Stefan's lips. He hadn't realized how much he missed Ethan's annoying energy until now.
"Finally," Ethan said, pulling Stefan into a quick, brotherly hug—the kind men gave when emotions were there but words were hard to find. He gave him a firm pat on the back before stepping back with a grin.
