Page 9 of Symphony for Lies (Tangled Truths #2)

The café was as busy as ever. It was one of the trendiest spots in town, a two-story structure with a modern yet cozy aesthetic.

The garden patio was illuminated with lanterns and colorful lights, creating a warm, enchanting atmosphere.

Upstairs, you could enjoy a breathtaking view of the city through the windows and get a drink at the bar.

Soft pop music played in the background, blending with the chatter of people and the rich aroma of coffee and pastries hanging in the air.

I scanned the crowd, looking for my friends. They had texted me earlier in the evening, letting me know they had snagged a window seat on the first floor.

It took me a second, but then I spotted them—the familiar brown hijab, the fluffy black afro, and the red ponytail.

As I approached, a small smile formed on my lips. They were deep in conversation, completely unaware of my presence.

“Good evening, is this seat taken?” I greeted playfully.

They immediately stopped talking.

Three pairs of wide eyes snapped toward me. And before I knew it, they jumped up from their seats.

“I can’t believe this! Amelia, you actually made it!”

Instantly, I was tackled into a tight six-arm embrace.

“We missed you so much!” Their voices overlapped, a chorus of love and excitement.

I let them squeeze the life out of me, knowing full well that we were probably getting stared at by half the café, and kissed each of my friends on the cheek before sliding into the seat next to Layla.

She leaned her delicate frame against me, resting her head on my shoulder and wrapping her arm around mine. Her hijab slipped slightly, brushing my hand.

“We haven’t seen you in so long,” she murmured, her amber eyes gazing up at me. The golden café lights illuminated her warm golden skin, making her glow softly.But her face seemed a little thinner.

“I know. I’m sorry for not keeping in touch as much as I should have.”

“At least you’re here now,” Tiana’s bright voice said.

Her afro had grown longer, framing her smooth umber skin, which appeared radiant and hydrated, like she never skipped a skincare routine.

She looked incredible. And so did Stacy.

Her green eyes sparkled under the lights, and for once, her normally pale complexion had a healthy glow, like she had just stepped out of a luxurious spa day.

Her cheeks were flushed, her freckles more visible, and her full lips had a soft, rosy tint.

“We really missed you,” Stacy added gently. But there was something else to her tone. A slight hint of sadness.

The guilt inside me deepened.“I’ll try to be on time next time,” I promised.

My friends simply waved off my apology.

Then, one by one, they started filling me in on everything I had missed.

As we chatted, a waiter came by to take our orders. We each got our favorite drinks and snacks, settling comfortably in our little corner of the café.

Layla was the first to share. She told us about her married life with Ali, a police officer. They had tied the knot the previous year, and the wedding had been a dream straight out of a fairy tale.

Then came Stacy’s update. Her ex was still trying to reach her. Still harassing her. My blood pressure spiked instantly. That bastard just wouldn’t leave her alone. But she was finally able to take action. My friend had something on him that hopefully would get him to stop.

Tiana had good news. She and her boyfriend were finally moving together.And… she had been promoted to news anchor.

With a cheer, we celebrated the announcement.

I pulled her into a tight hug, squeezing her with all the love I had.“That’s incredible! I’m so proud of you!”

She laughed, hugging me back before we all settled down again.

Then, their eyes turned to me, and I had no idea where to start.

But by the time I finished, the excitement and the warm glow had faded entirely. My friends looked stunned, shocked, and disturbed.

After a long silence, Stacy exclaimed, “What the fuck?”

“Yeah. What can I say? The last couple of weeks have been a handful.”

“Oh my God! You poor thing.” Layla wrapped her arms around me and held me tightly against her chest.

“Can’t… breathe,” I wheezed, gasping for air.

“Why didn’t you call me?” she asked. “You don’t have to carry all this alone! You always listen to me when I have problems. You’re always there for me. Let me be there for you, too.”

Her words almost brought me to tears.

“Ahem! We’re all here for you, Amelia!” Stacy and Tiana interjected in almost unison, making sure I heard them.

“Of course, I know that.” I gave them a weak smile. “I just… didn’t know how to talk about it.”

“Promise you’ll reach out. No matter what!”

I swallowed and gave Layla a slight nod.

The tension slowly faded. Before I could change the topic, a familiar scent of fresh aftershave filled the air, drawing my attention.

“Good evening, Amelia.”

I turned around and, to my surprise, came face-to-face with Officer Wilson.

Confused, I greeted him back.

“I see you’re doing better than you were this morning,” he noted.

He wasn’t in uniform. Instead, he wore dark blue jeans that emphasized his long legs and a black sweater that hung a little loose on his broad frame.

His hair, which was usually neatly styled, fell over his forehead in a messy, effortless way.

It was… different.

And surprisingly charming.

He looked younger, more relaxed, and utterly different from the stern police officer I had met.

“Officer Wilson, to what do I owe the honor?” I asked, feeling a little shy under his gaze.

“Please, call me Spencer. I’m off duty. Some old friends invited me out.” He tilted his head toward the second floor, where a group of men were grinning at us from the railing.His lips curled into a small smile.“I just saw you and wanted to say hello… and ask for a little favor.”

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “My friends made a bet that I wouldn’t have the guts to approach a woman and get her number. I’ll win if you just put your number in my phone. Help me out?”

That was unexpected.

I glanced up at his friends. Beyond them was a crowd of people lingering on the upper floor, and I immediately felt like eyes were everywhere, watching me.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I quickly looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and trying to shake the uneasy feeling.

That’s when I noticed my friends were glaring daggers at Officer Wilson.

He took a step back as if sensing the hostility.

“Sure, Officer Wils—I mean, Spencer.”

He sighed in relief and handed me his phone.

I quickly typed in my number and handed it back.

“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver. I owe you one.” He cleared his throat, nodding politely at my friends.“Didn’t mean to interrupt. Hope you all have a great night.”

When he turned to leave,Layla muttered, “You, too, Casanova.”

All my friends turned to me with questioning looks.

“That’s the cop I told you about,” I quickly explained.

Tiana’s and Layla’s expressions relaxed slightly, but Layla’s did not. She still stared hard at me like I had just committed a crime.“I don’t care if he’s a cop. He shouldn’t be using you for some foolish boys’ game.”

I shrugged.“It’s just a phone number. He already has it anyway.”

Layla pursed her lips. “We need to check him out.”

Tiana nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. Don’t worry. I’ll do some digging later and find out everything there’s to know about him. Spencer Wilson, huh?” Stacy muttered, already typing his name into her phone.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help chuckling, “Guys, I don’t want a relationship. Sure, he’s nice, but I don’t have time for that.”

Tiana’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Oh, come on. If he makes an effort, you should give him a chance.”

I shook my head, took a sip of my cold coffee, and let their endless scheming wash over me.

At some point, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder, pulling me out of my trance.

“Hi, Amelia.” The deep, melodic voice was one I recognized instantly.And my suspicions were confirmed when I looked up into familiar crystal blue eyes.

“Tristan?”

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” he asked politely.

I glanced at my friends. And just like that, Spencer was utterly forgotten. They were too busy staring dreamily at the handsome man beside me.

Layla waved us off.“Go ahead. Take your time.”

“No need to rush,” Stacy added.

“We won’t interrupt, promise.” Tiana smirked.

Wow. They were so easy to please.

I sighed, muttered an apology, and followed Tristan outside.

It was cold. I wrapped my arms around myself, but the chill air made me shiver.

Tristan noticed right away, and being the gentleman he was, he slipped off his jacket and dropped it over my shoulders.

“Thanks,” I murmured.

It was warm and smelled of sandalwood and… something familiar.

We started strolling around the building. The night air was peaceful, and the stars above offered a comforting glow.

My companion’s steps matched mine perfectly, near enough to share warmth but not so close that it felt overwhelming.

“How have you been?” His voice carried that soft, soothing tone that reminded me of his music.

“It’s been a rough week, but I’m okay. ”

He nodded, studying me before quietly saying, “You look paler than usual.”

Heat rushed to my face. It wasn’t an insult, but it felt like he’d seen through me too quickly.

Without thinking, I raised a hand, untucking my hair to hide my face.

“I-I’m just a little sleep-deprived.”

We stopped in front of the entrance, and Tristan tilted his head at me quizzically.“Did something happen?”

I swallowed hard.“A lot, but I’ll manage.”

He seemed to sense that I didn’t want to discuss it and smoothly shifted the conversation.“Same here. Ever since a certain someone came back, I haven’t had a moment of peace.”

It took me a second to understand who he meant.

Zane.

I could feel Tristan’s unease. He hated being pushed aside again.

“Everything’s been overwhelming lately. I keep messing up my playing, and my nerves are all over the place.”