chapter 16

Chapter 15: The next couple of days felt... strange. There was an almost eerie calm that settled over the café, the kind that usually came before a storm, except in this case, it was more of an emotional one than a literal one. Ben was quieter than usual, and though he and Lila still worked side by side, there was an undercurrent of something unresolved between them. Something unspoken.Lila couldn’t get the image of Emily and Alex out of her head. She didn’t want to feel threatened, but the thought of Ben’s past—whatever it was—lingered in her mind like a puzzle she couldn’t quite figure out. It wasn’t like Emily was the only woman in Ben’s life. Lila knew that. But it felt like she was still part of his world in a way that Lila wasn’t—at least, not yet.On Thursday morning, the café was bustling. Lila was running around, making her usual rounds, greeting customers, and preparing her newest batch of muffins, when she saw him again. Ben.This time, though, it wasn’t in the normal, comfortable silence of their routine. This time, he was standing near the counter, talking to someone she didn’t recognize.The man was tall, with dark hair and a broad build. He had a sharp, confident demeanor, but it wasn’t just his physical presence that caught Lila’s attention—it was the way he was looking at Ben. The familiarity between them was unmistakable.And that feeling, the one that had been quietly gnawing at her, came rushing back like a tidal wave.Lila hesitated for a second, watching them. Ben seemed... at ease with this man. Too at ease. And something about it made Lila feel like an outsider in her own café.She stepped out from behind the counter, forcing a smile as she walked up to them. “Hey, Ben. Who’s your friend?”Ben turned, his face lighting up when he saw her. “Oh, hey Lila! This is Chris. He’s a friend of mine from way back. We went to college together.”Lila extended a hand, trying to mask the slight tension in her voice. “Nice to meet you, Chris.”Chris shook her hand warmly, his smile genuine. “Likewise. Ben’s told me a lot about you. It’s great to finally put a face to the name.”Lila smiled, but the words didn’t feel right in her mouth. “Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about you, too.”“Really?” Chris said, a playful glint in his eyes. “I hope it was all good.”Ben laughed, but it was a little forced. “Of course. Nothing but good things.”But there was something in the way Chris was looking at Ben that made Lila’s stomach turn. It wasn’t just the way he spoke, or the jokes he cracked. It was the way they exchanged a glance, something unspoken passing between them, like an inside joke Lila wasn’t a part of.The moment felt like it was stretching on forever. Lila opened her mouth to say something, anything, to fill the awkward space, but before she could speak, the door to the café jingled, signaling the arrival of a new customer.She turned quickly, grateful for the distraction.It was Emily.Again.Lila couldn’t help the frustrated sigh that slipped out. She hadn’t seen Emily since the last time—when she’d come in with Alex—and now here she was, alone this time, walking toward the counter with that same calculated, cool smile on her face.Ben noticed Lila’s reaction immediately. “Lila, it’s okay,” he said quietly, his voice low enough for only her to hear. “She’s just here for coffee.”But Lila wasn’t so sure. She couldn’t help but feel that Emily had a way of showing up at just the right—or wrong—moment. And she wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take. How much longer could she keep pretending that it didn’t bother her?Emily approached the counter, her eyes flicking over to Ben and Chris, who were still deep in conversation. “Hey, Lila,” she said in a sweet, almost condescending tone. “I was hoping you’d be here. I just wanted to check out the new muffin you’ve got—heard it’s a real mystery.”Lila smiled tightly. “Oh, yes. It’s the mystery muffin. Lemon curd center. A little bit of sweet, a little bit of tart. You should try it.”Emily’s gaze shifted over to Ben, and for a moment, Lila could have sworn there was something a little too knowing in Emily’s look.“Lemon curd, huh?” Emily mused. “Sounds so original.” She took a step closer to the counter, glancing at Chris before looking back at Lila. “It must be nice, you know, to have all this... newness. A fresh start.”Lila’s jaw tightened, but she forced herself to keep her voice calm. “It’s definitely been an interesting ride.”Emily smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “I’m sure it has.” She took a moment, looking over her shoulder at Ben again. “Ben really seems to have found his place here, huh?”Lila couldn’t hold it in anymore. She cleared her throat and spoke, her voice far sharper than she intended. “Ben’s doing great. We’re doing great.” She paused, her heart racing. “And as for the muffins, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”For a second, there was a flicker of something in Emily’s eyes—a brief flash of something like disappointment, or maybe just irritation—but it disappeared quickly, replaced by her usual smooth, composed expression.“Well, I’m sure I’ll love it,” Emily said, her voice silky. “Thanks, Lila.” She turned then, walking toward the table where Chris and Ben were sitting, taking her place next to Chris without a second glance at Lila.Lila watched them, her stomach in knots. It was a game. It had to be. And Emily was playing it, whether Lila liked it or not.Ben, however, was watching Lila carefully, his brow furrowed. He could tell something was off—he’d seen that look on her face before.She wanted to leave. She wanted to get out of the café, away from all the tension and uncertainty. But she didn’t move. She couldn’t. Because no matter how much her heart told her to walk away, her feet wouldn’t listen.Later That Evening...The café was finally empty, save for Lila and Ben. The last of the cleaning had been done, and the closing time had come. Lila was standing behind the counter, organizing her ingredients, trying to occupy herself as the weight of the day began to settle in.Ben lingered near the door, his keys in hand, but he didn’t make a move to leave. Instead, he stood there, watching her.Lila could feel his gaze, and after a moment, she sighed, turning to face him. “What?”Ben hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t want you to feel like you’re in the middle of something. Between me and... between Emily.”Lila shook her head, though her throat felt tight. “I don’t know, Ben. I just don’t get it. Why does she keep showing up? It’s like... like she’s trying to stake a claim on you.”Ben’s face softened, and he took a step toward her. “Lila, she’s not... She’s not part of my life like that anymore. I swear. She’s just... an old friend.”Lila couldn’t help but shake her head. “I don’t know if I believe that.”“I want to show you, though,” Ben said, his voice quiet. “I want you to believe me. I want you to feel like you can trust me.”Lila looked up at him, meeting his gaze. She wanted to say something, anything, to push past the hurt she felt. But the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she simply nodded, the silence between them heavy.For the first time in days, the air felt like it was thick with something more than just uncertainty. Something more than just tension.It felt like the calm before the storm.