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“Uh, well, I’ll leave you to it,” I mutter, already starting to back away, my hands shoved deep in my pockets.

I turn and leave the shop, not waiting for Mia to say anything else. What could she say that’ll explain the moment? There’s no point. I swallow my disappointment and slam my car door shut before driving off.

MIA

Iwatch Jack leave, the door swinging closed behind him with a soft chime. For a moment, I just stand there, my hand still resting on the back of the chair, trying to shake off the strange heaviness that follows him out the door.

A part of me is disappointed—curious even—about how his date went and whether he actually enjoyed it. But I can’t let myself think about that too much. I’ve got enough to deal with already.

Ryan’s voice cuts through the silence, bringing me back to the present.

“So, what’s this about?” he asks, his tone casual, but there’s an edge to it that I can’t ignore. I turn to face him, my thoughts already heavy with the mess of emotions swirling inside me.

“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to play it cool, but inside, I’m not sure how to handle him being here. Again.

“Him.” He nods at the door where Jack just disappeared. “He was at dinner, too. What’s up?”

My body tightens with irritation, and I struggle to keep my voice light. “Do you know you have five minutes? And that time is already ticking.”

He came in here only minutes ago, begging for an audience. When it became obvious he wouldn’t leave if I didn’t listen, I gave him five minutes to talk.

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s talk about us.”

Us. There’s no us. But instead of arguing, I sit back down.

“I’m listening.”

He leans forward slightly, his eyes never leaving mine, and for the first time in a long time, I see a flicker of something I haven’t seen in him for years—vulnerability. The kind of vulnerability he never showed when we were together.

“I came back for you, Mia,” he says, his voice softer now. “I want us to get back together.”

I blink, stunned. “What?” I say, as though the word is all I can manage.

Ryan sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I know I messed things up, but I thought… I thought all I needed was to be successful in my career. I thought I could just move on, but I was wrong. I’ve realized that none of that matters without you. You’re the one I want. You always have been.”

His words hang in the air between us, and for a split second, my heart flutters, but then the reality of what he’s saying sinks in. He’s back in town, making all these promises and declarations like nothing’s changed. But it has. We’ve changed.I’vechanged. And this—this is too much, too soon.

I swallow hard, trying to process what he’s saying. “Ryan…” I begin, but my voice falters as I search for the right words. “You can’t just spring this on me.”

“I know, but?—”

“No buts. You told me to move on. You made it seem like I was the only thing holding you back. It’s been years, and I’ve moved on, Ryan. Getting back together is not happening.”

“I’m not expecting you to just take me back,” he says, reaching out like he wants to hold my hand but stops short when he sees me pull away. “I know it’s not that simple. But I need you to understand that I’ve made a mistake. And I want to make it right. We’ve always been good together, Mia. I know we can be again. I can prove myself. I can prove it.”

I rise and step back, trying to create space between us, even though my emotions are in chaos. “I don’t know what to say, Ryan. You left me. You chose something else, and now you’re back saying this after all this time?”

“I know,” he says, his voice low. “I wasn’t ready then, but I am now. I’ve spent the last few years building a career, thinking it would be enough. But it wasn’t. I want to build a life with you, Mia.”

“Things aren’t the same anymore, Ryan. We aren’t the same.”

Ryan’s eyes soften, and I see the familiar hint of desperation there—the part of him that never really changed. But I can’t let myself get caught up in that again. Not now. Not after everything.

“You don’t have to decide right now,” he says, almost pleading. “I’m just asking for a chance. To show you I’ve changed.”

I take a deep breath, my mind racing with all the old memories of us, but I keep them locked away. “Please leave, Ryan.”

He nods, understanding, but the sadness in his eyes doesn’t go unnoticed. “I get it, Mia. I’ll give you space. I just wanted you to know I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”