They were two souls destined to find each other in the midst of all the beauty and madness that California offered. And it happened one late evening at a small coastal bar tucked away in Carmel by the Sea. The air was warm, the sky painted in hues of pink and orange, and the smell of the ocean lingered in the breeze. Miranda sat at the bar, her fingers tracing the rim of her whiskey glass, lost in thought as she savored each sip. Micah, seated a few stools down, noticed the way she appreciated the drink, as if every drop held a story.

“Looks like someone knows good whiskey,” he said with a smile, lifting his glass in a subtle toast.

Miranda glanced over, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Only the best for nights like these.”