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I don’t respond right away. I can’t. I need to figure out what I want, and right now, I’m not sure of anything. Not with Ryan. Not with Jack. Not with anything.

Ryan lingers for a moment longer, then turns to leave. “I’ll see you around, Mia. Take care of yourself.”

I nod, watching him walk out of the shop, my heart heavy with a mixture of emotions. He’s back, but I don’t know if I’m ready for him to be.

I lean against the counter, my thoughts spinning, and the sound of the shop’s quiet hum fills the space. It feels like the calm before the storm, but I’m not sure how long I can keep pretending everything is fine when it’s not.

And then there’s Jack. We really need to talk. After our parting at my parents’ dinner, I didn’t expect to see him walk into my store. But he left so abruptly, I don’t understand why.

“Don’t worry. I’m not planning to come in between you and your high school sweetheart.”

Ugh! This is all driving me insane.

The door chimes as Emma walks in, her presence like a breath of fresh air compared to the heavy silence that had settled in my chest.

“I saw Ryan driving off,” she says, eyes scanning the room as if trying to piece together the puzzle. “Was he here?”

I nod, leaning against the counter. “Yeah, he was.”

Emma wiggles her brows, but there’s a mix of curiosity and concern in her gaze. “So… do you think you’ll date him again? Are you guys trying to rekindle?”

I hesitate, the thought of Ryan still lingering in my mind. But I shake my head. “No. I can’t.”

Emma tilts her head, eyes softening as if she’s trying to read between the lines. “I mean, I know things were complicated with you two, but… You guys were high school sweethearts. You’ve known each other forever. It’s hard to just forget about that, right?”

I feel a tightness in my chest, and I can’t hold it in anymore. “That’s not true,” I say, my voice catching for a moment. “He broke my heart. It wasn’t just about us realizing it was better to let each other go. He strung me along for months before he finally cut things off, and it wasn’t because we both wanted different things. It was because he decided to stay in the city and build his career.”

Emma looks taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise. “Mia… why didn’t you tell me all this?”

I bite my lip, looking down at the counter for a moment. I’ve never really talked about it, even though I’ve carried it with me for so long. “Because Ryan was your friend, too. He was a good friend, Emma, and I didn’t want you to hate him. And I didn’t want to talk about it at the time. I was hurting, and by the time I healed enough, the pain wasn’t so raw anymore. It didn’t seem necessary to dig it up again.”

Emma’s face softens, and she steps forward, pulling me into a tight hug. “Oh, Mia… I’m so sorry I’ve been so welcoming to him. I had no idea he did that to you. I should’ve known better.”

I rest my head on her shoulder, letting the comfort of her embrace soothe me. “It’s not your fault, Em. You didn’t know.”

She pulls away slightly, holding me at arm’s length, and looks me in the eye with concern and sympathy. “I just… I hate that you had to go through that alone. I always want to be there for you.”

“I know. I just didn’t want to drag anyone else into it, especially not you. You had enough on your plate with school and exams, and I wasn’t ready to burden anyone with my own pain.”

Emma just nods, her expression softening. “Well, now you don’t have to. I’m here, Mia. Always.”

I nod, grateful for her friendship. For her support. “Thanks, Em. I really needed to hear that.”

She smiles and squeezes my hands. “You deserve the best. You always have. And whatever happens with Ryan, just know that you’ve got me. You always will.”

I smile at her, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. “Thanks. I just don’t know what to do about Ryan now.”

She looks thoughtful for a moment before speaking again.

“It’s been years. And while I won’t underestimate your pain, I’d like you to consider that he may have changed,” she says wisely. “He has a successful career, but obviously that isn’t enough to keep him happy. That’s why he’s back. If you can, maybe just let him try. You don’t have to do anything. Let him work hard and prove himself to you. Just take it one step at a time. You don’t have to decide anything right now. Just… give yourself time.”

I nod, the weight of her words settling over me. Time. That’s all I really need. Time to figure out what I want, and if Ryan’s presence in my life is part of the plan moving forward.

We used to love each other genuinely and honestly. I know Ryan loved me so much at one point. If we can build it back, maybe it’ll make sense. I shake my head again. Time. No need to rush into anything.

“Ryan aside,” Emma chirps, “I came to ask how Jack’s date went. Are you keeping tabs on him?”

I decide not to tell Emma about Jack coming here because I don’t understand it myself. It’s just part of the many things I need to figure out on my own.