Chapter 11: A Fresh Start—With Bumps
The next day felt lighter, as if the storm between them had finally passed. Caden texted Ayla good morning, and this time, she replied without hesitation. It wasn't perfect—there was still some tension, unspoken questions lingering between them—but it was progress.
They decided to meet at a cozy bookstore café downtown, a place Ayla loved. She arrived early, browsing through shelves of novels while waiting for Caden.
Just as she found a book that piqued her interest, a familiar voice behind her made her heart sink.
"Well, well. If it isn't Ayla."
She turned to find Sabrina standing there, her smile sharp and calculating.
"Fancy running into you here," Sabrina said, tilting her head. "I was just thinking about you and Caden."
Ayla forced a tight smile. "Funny. I wasn't thinking about you at all."
Sabrina laughed, as if amused by her resistance. "You know, Caden and I go way back. It's hard to let go of something like that."
Ayla's stomach twisted, but she kept her composure. "He seems to be doing just fine."
"Does he?" Sabrina's eyes gleamed with mischief. "You might want to ask him about the time we spent together last week. Just…in case he left out any details."
Before Ayla could respond, Sabrina turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd, leaving a storm of doubt brewing in her wake.
When Caden arrived a few minutes later, Ayla's warm smile was replaced with a guarded expression.
"Hey," he greeted cheerfully, unaware of the emotional minefield waiting for him.
Ayla crossed her arms. "We need to talk."