Nico had drifted back toward the counter, squinting at the pastry display with exaggerated seriousness. “I think they’ve restocked,” he called over his shoulder. “This feels like a two-muffin morning.” Before I could answer, he was already gone, mission renewed.
I was looking at him in disbelief when someone slid into the seat in front of me.
Cassandra.
For a heartbeat, I braced, but her expression was more tired than anything, like she’d laid her weapons down.
“Olivia,” she said, her voice low. “I just wanted to say thank you. For showing up for Alex at that race. For being there when she needed it.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” I said, steady. “You’ve always wanted what’s best for her, even if we didn’t see it the same way.”
A shadow of a smile tugged at her mouth. “Guess we were both too stubborn to admit the other wasn’t wrong.”
“Stubborn,” I echoed, and for the first time, it wasn’t an insult. “She needs that. People who won’t let her carry it all alone.”
Cassandra’s eyes softened, just a fraction. “Then maybe she’s luckier than she realizes.”
I held her gaze, steady. “Or maybe we both are. To love her in our own ways.”
For a beat, neither of us moved. The air between us was different now, like a truce finally laid down.
Then she hesitated, her voice softening. “Take care of her. I know she’ll take care of you, too.”
Something shifted in my chest at that. Respect. Permission, even.
“I will,” I promised quietly.
She rose with her tray, pausing before she left. “Just… don’t let her shut you out. She’ll try. You know how she is.”
“I know,” I said. “And I won’t.”
She gave the faintest nod, almost like approval, then walked away. And for the first time, I didn’t feel like I was carrying this battle alone. A wound closed and a weight gone.
Nico came back, balancing two muffins and a coffee, looking far too pleased with himself. He set one of the muffins in front of me like an offering.
Maddie arrived moments later, sliding into the seat across from us.
“Just so you know,” she said, carefully, “Some media outlets are… sniffing around. A little too interested in your love life.”
I barely glanced at the headlines, with familiar words and familiar framing. Speculation dressed up as concern. Curiosity sharpened into entitlement.
I took another bite of the muffin.
Nico blinked. “That’s it? You’re not even going to doom-scroll?”
I shook my head. “I don’t need to.”
Maddie studied me, searching for cracks. “You’re really okay with it?”
“I am,” I said, surprised by how true it felt. “They can believe whatever they want. Write whatever story fits. That part isn’t mine to control.”
I wrapped my fingers around my cup. “What I care about is that Alex and I are happy. That’s what we have is real. And right now, it’s ours.”
Maddie’s expression softened. “So… private?”
“For now,” I nodded. “Maybe one day we’ll let the world in. Maybe we won’t. But this—” I gestured vaguely between us, toward the truth of it “Doesn’t exist for anyone else’s consumption.”
Nico lifted his muffin in quiet agreement. “As someone who’s had his fair share of headlines, I can confirm: peace is wildly underrated.”
