And then ke Bangle about Laser|| The way bet wodem podietand when she laughed, the way lips eyes la sp what she talked about her photography class, the way being around her fek like slipping is as wenething landliai ant sale
For prats, be’deskliimpelt that his feelings fa Lanimowie potely platonic, that the best was nothing more than the deep–rooted conection of two childhood in leuis But now, faced with the winkage of his engagement, he couklart deny the touch any longer.
Lauri wa’t just a friend.
That evening, Alexiedcalling Sephia, but her phone went straight to voicemail
*Hey, it’s me,” he saidates the beep 1 past. I’m sorry. For everything, Can we talk?”
He hung up, knowing full well she
kn’t call back
He sat on the edge of his bed, his head in his hands. For the first time in a long time, he didn’t know what to do.
Meanwhile, Sophia sat in her car outside her sister’s house, staring at the dashboard.
Her mind replayed the argument with Alexver and over, each wordcutting deeper than the las
the thought about the was he’d said Lauren’s name, the way his eyes had flickered with something unspoken.
And for the first time, Sophia began to wonder if she had been fighting a losing battle all along
back in New York, Lauren wasn’t aware of the stormerwing between Alex and Sophia
She spent her evening editing photos from her latest class project, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she adjusted lighting and composition But even as the focused on her work, a familiar ache lingered in her chest a reminder of the unresolved feelings sha was trying so hard to ignore Hes phone buzzed on the table, and she glanced at the screen. It was Alex
She stared at the message for a long moment before setting the phone aside without replying
Became no matter how much she cared about him, the couldn’t let herself be fed back into his world
I knew the right thing to d
After Sephen‘ a call and the chai
mments with Ales, thadursebord to step back Louldn’t let myself be the reason their relationship unraveled, even if it had been fragile to begin with
But bewating the right thing and keng) were two very ditiru ma things
randy po when
cafe, pang of gait tightened in my chest. Every time I saw his name flash on my screen, I felt the weight of his room our last c
trii. Not në him, not to Sephia, and m
eplies, pomoci meetings, no more getting caught in his bit. It was time is puttance between in for real this time.
ing far trmemmifortable in his tailoredenti andray mile.
Η
ugh the way his han ditakerted in his pockets tolta differnt item.
“This beni a practima,” kaakt, plancing around the spenattice. My commbers were already starting to netice, their is gesing beraren in
he said, his tone insistent dan nodt erengh to mandlike an invitation rather than a demand.
ked, knowing hill well this wasn’t going to end until 1
bed in camall vote at weld the corner, the air between us thick with unspoken temsin.
reid. I wanted no time perting to the point. “You shouldn’t be here.”
qper than Eintended
thinking about you.” he uid, his eyes locking ostamine…
I looked away, Focusing on the ir vam rising from my rodine. “Alex, pou’re rigaged?
Lasked again, this time louder. “Why do you keep doing i
said, shaking my head “Not to Sophia, and not to me.
ou don’t get to do this, Alex. You don’t get to show up and say things like that when you’re marrying
– tightened, but he didn’t argue
(being your luckup plan,” I continued, my voice trembling. “I deserve more t
li shouldern slumping slightly. “You’re right“.
