She already had her forever. He wasn't part of the plan. Maggie O'Connor had a marriage most people only dream about. Then she lost her husband. Now she has a classroom full of kids who almost always listen, a book club that feels like family, and a coffee shop that knows her order by heart. Starting over with someone new was never part of the plan. Evan Asher spent twenty years playing professional baseball. Steady. Reliable. The kind of player teams counted on. Retirement brought him east, closer to Maplemoor, where a quiet Wednesday stop at The Brewhouse wasn't supposed to mean anything. Until he heard a laugh he'd know anywhere. Maggie isn't looking for a second chance. Evan isn't sure he believes in coincidence. What they had was a long time ago, when they were different versions of themselves. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to pretend this is just two people catching up. Because the year Maggie lost the love of her life, Evan retired from his. And she's not sure she can risk building something new when she knows exactly how easily it can end.