Chapter 4: Missed Signals and Mixed Messages
The following morning, Ayla woke up smiling—until her phone buzzed with a new message from Caden.
Caden:
Hey! Change of plans for tonight. Work emergency came up. I'll make it up to you soon, promise!
Her heart sank a little, though she quickly tried to brush it off. It wasn't a big deal. Just a rescheduled dinner—not a rejection. Right?
Ayla:
No worries! Work comes first. Good luck with everything :)
She hit send and tossed her phone aside, trying to ignore the little knot of disappointment that had settled in her chest.
But the disappointment didn't go away as easily as she'd hoped. The hours ticked by slowly at the bookstore, and her thoughts kept drifting back to Caden.
Maybe she was overthinking it, but something about the sudden cancellation didn't sit right. Why did it feel like more than just bad timing?
That evening, Ayla decided she needed a distraction. She grabbed her umbrella and headed to her favorite café. The rain had returned with a vengeance, drenching the streets in shimmering puddles.
As she walked inside, shaking water off her umbrella, her heart stopped.
Sitting in the far corner, tucked behind a potted plant like he didn't want to be seen, was Caden.
And he wasn't alone.
A woman with sleek black hair sat across from him, leaning in close, her hand resting casually on his. They looked deep in conversation, and whatever they were discussing, it wasn't casual.
Ayla's chest tightened. So this was his work emergency? She stood frozen, watching as the woman laughed softly, her fingers brushing Caden's.
Her first instinct was to walk right up to them, slam her umbrella down, and demand an explanation. But before she could act, Caden glanced up—and their eyes met.
His expression shifted from surprise to guilt in a heartbeat.
Ayla's heart clenched. She turned sharply on her heel and left without a word, the door swinging shut behind her with a sharp clang.
Back outside in the rain, Ayla tried to take a deep breath, but it felt like the storm clouds had settled inside her chest.
Her phone buzzed with a message. She knew without looking that it was from Caden.
Caden:
Ayla, wait. It's not what it looks like.
She stared at the screen, her fingers trembling. She didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or throw her phone into the nearest puddle.
Instead, she shoved it into her pocket and started walking, the rain blurring the edges of the city around her.
Caden sat in the café, cursing under his breath as he stared at the door where Ayla had just vanished. This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go.
"I think she saw us," the woman sitting across from him said, raising an eyebrow.
"No kidding, Ella," Caden muttered, running a hand through his damp hair.
Ella smirked. "Want me to go after her?"
"Absolutely not," Caden snapped. "This is bad enough already."
Ella laughed, clearly enjoying the chaos she'd caused. "Relax, little brother. If she likes you, she'll understand."
"Yeah, because catching me in a café with my sister screams 'innocent misunderstanding,'" Caden grumbled.
Ella shrugged. "Hey, I tried to warn you that dating is complicated."
Caden shot her a glare. "You're not helping."
Ella leaned back in her chair, looking far too amused for his liking. "I'm just saying—if this Ayla girl is worth it, she'll listen when you explain."
Caden let out a frustrated sigh. "Assuming she'll even give me a chance to explain."
Meanwhile, Ayla was curled up on her couch, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders like a shield. Her phone buzzed again, but she ignored it, sinking deeper into her little cocoon of misery.
Why did it sting so much? It wasn't like she and Caden were anything serious yet. They'd only gone on a couple of dates. But somehow, it had felt like… more.
And now? Now it just felt like a mistake.
Her phone buzzed once more, and despite herself, Ayla picked it up.
Caden:
Please, let me explain. Meet me tomorrow? Just give me five minutes.
Ayla stared at the message, her heart waging a war with her brain. Part of her wanted to believe him. The other part wasn't so sure.
After a long pause, she typed back:
Ayla:
Fine. Five minutes.
The next day, they met at a small park, where the trees dripped with leftover rain from the night before.
Caden looked anxious, which was a first. His usual playful confidence was nowhere to be found.
"Thanks for coming," he said softly.
Ayla crossed her arms, keeping her expression neutral. "Five minutes. Start talking."
Caden took a deep breath. "The woman you saw with me last night… that was my sister, Ella. She flew in last-minute from London and demanded dinner. I didn't mean to cancel on you, but she needed to talk, and… well, family stuff."
Ayla raised an eyebrow. "That's it? No secret girlfriend, no scandalous affair?"
"Nope. Just a nosy sister who thinks it's funny to mess with my life."
Ayla tried to keep her guard up, but the earnest look on Caden's face made it difficult.
"So… why didn't you just tell me that from the start?"
Caden winced. "I panicked. I thought if I said I was canceling for my sister, it would sound lame. And then… well, you saw what happened."
Ayla stared at him for a moment, debating whether or not to believe him.
Then, despite herself, she let out a small laugh. "You're an idiot."
Caden gave her a sheepish grin. "Yeah. But I'm hoping you'll forgive me anyway."
Ayla shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "You owe me dinner. And it better be good."
Caden's grin widened. "Deal."
As they walked together through the park, the rain began to fall again—soft and steady, like a familiar friend.
This time, neither of them minded.