1.

The warm hum of Crescent Brews felt like home. The café was quiet, just the way I liked it in the late evenings. The soft clinking of dishes being washed in the kitchen and the faint murmur of jazz playing on the radio created a comforting backdrop as I finished wiping down the counters. Outside, the streetlights bathed the empty sidewalks in a golden glow, signaling the end of another long day.

I sighed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear as I surveyed the room. The smell of roasted coffee beans lingered in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of lavender from the candles I kept near the window. This place was my sanctuary, my escape from a life that often felt too heavy to carry.

“Mom, can I have another cookie?” Liam’s small voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I turned toward the counter where my eight-year-old son sat, swinging his legs back and forth. His dark brown eyes—the same eyes that haunted my dreams—gazed at me with a hopeful glint.

“Liam,” I said, trying to sound stern, though the corners of my mouth twitched into a smile. “You’ve already had two today. You’ll spoil your dinner.”

“But I’m still hungry,” he protested, sticking out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout.

I shook my head, walking over to ruffle his messy hair. “Nice try, kiddo. Dinner first, then maybe I’ll think about it.”

Liam groaned dramatically but hopped off the stool without further complaint, his small hands shoving into the pockets of his jeans. “Fine,” he muttered, trudging toward the small play area I’d set up near the back of the café.

As I watched him go, my heart clenched. He looked so much like his father, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape that fact. The dark hair, the sharp features, the way his brows furrowed in concentration—it was all Ace.

Ace.

I hadn’t spoken that name out loud in years, but it echoed in my mind every time I looked at Liam. I thought I’d buried the memories of him, shoved them into a locked box and thrown away the key. But some things refused to stay buried.

It had been nine years since the night I let my guard down and gave myself all to Ace. Nine years since our brief, fleeting connection had left me reeling in ways I never anticipated. I was just seventeen, barely an adult when our worlds collided. He was charismatic and mysterious. He made me feel like I was the only person in the room. For one night, I let myself believe in him, in the possibility of something more.

And then he was gone.

No calls. No messages. Just silence.

I didn’t know why he left or where he went. All I knew was that I woke up the next morning alone, a note on the bedside table telling me, “I’m sorry.”

Two months later, I found out I was pregnant.

“Mom!” Liam’s voice cut through my reverie, snapping me back to the present. “Are you okay?”

I blinked, realizing I’d been staring at the countertop for too long. “Yeah, honey. I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “Go grab your stuff; it’s almost time to close up.”

Liam nodded and disappeared into the backroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. I leaned against the counter, gripping its edge as a wave of emotions threatened to pull me under.

No matter how much time passed, Ace’s absence still felt like a wound that wouldn’t heal. I hated him for leaving, for abandoning me without an explanation. But more than that, I hated myself for still wondering about him—for still wanting answers I knew I’d never get.

By the time I locked up the café and stepped out into the cool evening air, the weight in my chest felt unbearable. I pulled my jacket tighter around me, glancing up at the sky. The stars were faint, their light barely visible against the glow of the city.

I started walking, Liam’s small hand tucked in mine.

“Can we read Captain Galaxy tonight?” he asked, his voice full of excitement.

“Of course,” I replied, smiling despite myself. “But only if you brush your teeth first.”

“Deal!”

His laughter was infectious, and for a moment, I let myself forget everything.

We were halfway to the car when it happened.

Out of nowhere, a van screeched to a halt beside us. My instincts kicked in immediately, and I pulled Liam closer, shielding him with my body.

“Stay behind me,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

The van door slid open, and masked figures emerged, their movements quick and precise. Panic surged through me as one of them grabbed my arm, yanking me away from Liam.

“Mom!” he screamed, his voice high-pitched with terror.

“Run, Liam!” I shouted, struggling against the iron grip of my captor. “Run and don’t look back!”

But before he could move, one of the figures injected me with something. A cold numbness spread through my veins, and the world blurred.

The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was Liam’s terrified face and the sound of him calling my name.

---

When I woke, the first thing I noticed was the bright, sterile light overhead. My head throbbed, and my limbs felt heavy, like they were weighed down by lead. I tried to move, but leather straps held my wrists and ankles in place.

Panic set in as I looked around the room. White walls. Metal instruments. A lab.

“Where am I?” I croaked, my throat dry and scratchy.

A figure stepped into view—a tall man in a lab coat, his expression unreadable.

“Zephyr Vance,” he said, his voice cold. “We’ve been looking for you.”

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“You have information we need,” he replied, ignoring my questions. “And you’re going to help us get it.”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded, my voice rising. “I don’t know anything!”

The man’s eyes gleamed behind his glasses. “Oh, but you do. Nine years ago, you crossed paths with someone very important to us. Ace Callahan. Do you remember him?”

The mention of his name sent a jolt through me. “I don’t know where he is,” I said quickly. “I haven’t seen him in years.”

“That’s exactly why we’re here,” the man said. “You’re going to find him for us.”

I shook my head, pulling against the restraints. “I don’t know how to find him! He disappeared!”

The man smirked, holding up a strange device. “Then we’ll give you a little… help.”

Before I could protest, he pressed a button, and the world exploded in a flash of light.

When I opened my eyes again, I wasn’t in the lab anymore. I was lying in my old bedroom, surrounded by the pastel walls and the familiar smell of vanilla.

My heart raced as I sat up, realization dawning on me.

They sent me back. Back in the year I was seventeen.