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“Shut up. I need coffee.” My hands are shaking from the caffeine, but at the same time, I feel like I could fall asleep.
It’s been months since I’ve gotten a full night’s sleep. Working full time at this place doesn’t give me a lot of time or energy, but I don’t care. I’ve gotten myself a new client, and I’m not losing out on what might be the best shot at financial security I have.
“Writing all night again?” Lissa asks.
I nod, watching Alexander perk up in the corner of my eye. He’d always encouraged me to write. Sometimes, it felt like he was the only one who understood how happy it made me.
“Yeah. I got another client.”
“Girlfriend, that’s awesome!”
Lissa is possibly the only person in my life who’s actually supportive of my writing. Most people think it’s ridiculous to try to make it a full-time career.
What am I supposed to do, stay a barista for the rest of my life?
Alexander clears my throat, and my stomach jumps.
“Do you need something?” I say to him, my tone surprisingly even considering his presence over the past week has been turning my insides into knots. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to unravel them.
“Sit down with me for a moment.”
I glance to Lissa, who shrugs, twirling her pink hair in her fingers. “We’re pretty dead right now.”
I shoot her a glare before taking the seat across from Alexander. I take a deep breath and instantly regret it. Why does he have to smell so damn good? And why do I have to have so many memories attached to him and his stupid everything?
Staring at the table, I mumble, “What?”
“Come out with me tonight.”
Goddamn.
“I don’t think that’d be a good idea.”
My fingers curl into a fist under the table. High school had been a whirlwind romance, but it wasn’t meant to last. Not when his father destroyed mine. Not when we were ripped apart from each other. Not when he—
“I disagree. And I know you want to.”
My gaze drifts out the window. I can’t look into his eyes—the ones that used to be filled with so much passion for me.
“Soph, look at me.”
I shut my eyes as he leans forward.
“Tell me you don’t want to, and I’ll leave it at that. But look me in the eye when you say it.”
I grit my teeth and face him. His features are unreadable, but his eyes are as captivating as ever. How can I lie to him? How can I tell him that I don’t want anything to do with him when he still haunts my dreams?
“I’ll think about it.” My voice is uneven.
He reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a business card. “My personal number. Don’t lose it—very few people have it. Text me when you make up your mind.”
With that, he leaves, and I’m left as breathless as when he left me the first time. My heart is beating too fast, and I curse under my breath. How can he make me feel this way after all this time? After what he did?
I snatch the business card and shove it into my pocket.
Lissa is giving me a sly grin as I slip behind the counter. “He’s cute. You know him, right?”
“He’s my ex from high school.”
