The café was humming with afternoon activity when the bell above the door jingled. Emma glanced up and froze for a moment—standing in the doorway was a familiar face from Ethan’s past: his old bandmate, Jason.
“Ethan!” Jason called, waving enthusiastically.“It’s been ages!”
Ethan’s grin faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered.“Jason! Wow, long time no see.”
Emma felt a twinge of unease. She had always trusted Ethan, but there was something about Jason’s easy charm that made her stomach twist.
“Emma, this is Jason,” Ethan said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.“We used to play in a band together.”
Jason smiled warmly.“Nice to meet you, Emma. Ethan talks about you all the time.”
Emma forced a smile, feeling a mix of irritation and curiosity.“That’s… sweet,” she said carefully.
Jason’s presence stirred something in Ethan too—he seemed slightly distracted, glancing at Emma with an apologetic look. Emma noticed, her heart beating faster. Was he hiding something from her?
“Hey, want to catch up? Maybe grab a coffee?” Jason asked, oblivious to the tension.
Ethan hesitated, then shook his head.“Not today. Busy running the café,” he said firmly, giving Emma a pointed look that made her heart flutter with relief.
As Jason left, waving goodbye, Emma let out a quiet breath.“You handled that well,” she said, trying to mask the lingering nerves.
Ethan smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.“I’ve got nothing to hide, Emma. You’re the one I care about,” he said softly.
Emma felt her shoulders relax.“I know… I guess I just overreact sometimes,” she admitted.
“You don’t overreact,” Ethan reassured her.“You care. And I like that about you.”
Emma laughed softly, feeling the tension melt away.“Well, I care a lot.”
Ethan leaned closer, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur.“And I’m lucky to have you caring about me.”
In that moment, with the café bustling around them and the soft light casting a warm glow, Emma realized that no matter the surprises or small tests, she and Ethan were building something real. Something worth protecting.
And with a shared smile and a playful squeeze of her hand, they returned to the rhythm of the café, hearts beating in quiet harmony, ready for whatever came next.
Chapter 16:
After-Hours Glow
The café was quiet now, the hum of the day replaced by a peaceful stillness. Emma had finished her closing duties, and the last customers had left, leaving the warm golden light of the lamps casting gentle shadows across the tables.
Ethan leaned against the counter, guitar in hand.“See? This is my favorite part of the day,” he said softly.“Just… us.”
Emma smiled, moving closer to him.“It’s nice, isn’t it? No rush, no distractions… just quiet.”
He set his guitar down and gestured toward a small table by the window.“Come on. Let’s sit.”
They shared a simple dessert Ethan had picked up earlier—two slices of chocolate cake and steaming mugs of coffee. Emma laughed when he tried to feed her a bite, only for her to dodge playfully.
“You’re impossible,” she teased, though her cheeks burned.
“And you like it,” he countered with a grin, finally managing to get a small bite onto her fork.
Emma laughed, shaking her head.“Maybe I do,” she admitted.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, sipping coffee and watching the city lights flicker outside. Ethan reached across the table, taking her hand gently.“Emma,” he said, his voice low and tender,“I… I’ve never felt this way before. You make everything feel… lighter, happier.”
Emma’s heart skipped.“I feel the same,” she whispered, her fingers tightening around his.
