Days passed, and Lily couldn't shake the unease that had taken root in her heart. James texted her daily, sometimes with apologies, other times with reassurances, but she kept her responses curt. She needed space to figure out what she wanted—and whether she could trust him.
At the café where she often worked, she found herself pouring her frustration into her writing. Her main character was suddenly embroiled in a complicated love triangle, torn between loyalty and self-respect. It wasn't subtle, but it felt cathartic.
Midway through her second cup of coffee, a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.
"You've been avoiding me."
She looked up to see James standing by her table, his expression a mix of determination and exhaustion. He looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"I said I needed time," she replied coolly, closing her laptop.
"And I've given it to you," he said, pulling out the chair across from her. "But I can't keep waiting, Lily. We need to talk about this."
Lily's jaw tightened. "What's there to talk about? You lied to me. You kept something important from me, and now you expect me to just... move on like it doesn't matter?"
"I didn't lie," James said firmly. "I withheld something, yes, but it was never out of malice. I was trying to protect what we have."
She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Protect us? Or protect yourself from having to be honest?"
James leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Do you want to know the truth, Lily? My ex is in trouble because she made bad decisions—financial ones. She came to me because she knew I'd help her. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to think I was still tied to her emotionally. I'm not. But I care about people in my life, even if they've hurt me."
Lily stared at him, her emotions churning. Part of her wanted to believe him, but another part couldn't ignore the growing doubts in her mind.
"Why didn't you just tell me this from the beginning?" she asked softly.
"Because I was scared," James admitted, his voice cracking. "Scared you'd think I wasn't over her. Scared you'd walk away before we even had a chance to build something real."
His vulnerability disarmed her, but the wall around her heart remained intact. "I don't know if I can do this, James. I've been hurt before, and I can't... I can't be the one holding us together if you're going to keep shutting me out."
James reached across the table, his hand covering hers. "Then let me hold us together. Let me prove to you that this is worth fighting for."
For a moment, she considered it. She wanted to believe in him, in them. But before she could respond, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and froze.
Unknown Number:
You deserve to know the truth about James.
Her stomach twisted as she stared at the message. Attached was a photo of James and his ex, locked in what looked like an intimate conversation outside a bar. The timestamp was from the night he'd promised he was working late.
Lily stood abruptly, pulling her hand away. "I can't do this right now."
"Lily—" James started, but she was already gathering her things.
"I need space," she said, her voice breaking.
She walked out of the café, leaving James behind. The ache in her chest was almost unbearable,
but the fear of being betrayed again was worse.