Chapter 3: Crossing Lines

---

The next day at the café felt heavier than usual. Ethan avoided unnecessary conversation, his usual warmth dulled. I tried not to notice, burying myself in tasks, but the tension was thick enough to suffocate me. Every interaction felt strained, and guilt gnawed at me.

I tried to distract myself, but it didn’t help that Leo was lingering in the back of my mind like a question I couldn’t answer. I hated how easily he unsettled me and how much space he seemed to occupy in my thoughts.

Around noon, the café quieted down, and Ethan walked over, breaking the silence. “We need to talk.”

I froze, glancing at him. “Right now?”

He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “Yeah, now.”

My stomach tightened. Ethan rarely looked this serious. “Okay… about what?”

He studied me for a moment before sighing. “Lila, I know you. Something’s been off for days, and I can’t just sit back and watch you spiral.”

I looked away, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of my apron. “I’m fine, Ethan. It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing,” he said firmly, his voice low enough to keep from drawing attention. “Is it about that guy? Leo?”

The sound of his name on Ethan’s lips sent a jolt through me. “Why does everyone keep bringing him up?”

“Because he’s not just some stranger, Lila,” Ethan said, his frustration evident. “He’s not here for coffee or conversation. Guys like that don’t show up in places like this unless they want something.”

“Maybe he just likes the atmosphere,” I said defensively, though even I didn’t believe the words.

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “And you think he doesn’t see how you look at him? Or how distracted you’ve been ever since he showed up?”

“That’s not fair,” I snapped, suddenly feeling exposed. “I’ve been working just as hard as always.”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” Ethan replied, his voice softer now. “I’m just… worried about you, okay? You’re my best friend, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

The sincerity in his voice made my chest ache. I wanted to reassure him, to tell him that everything was fine, but I couldn’t. Because deep down, I wasn’t sure it was.

---

Later that evening, I decided I needed air. I walked to the park, the one place where I could think without the weight of expectations or questions. The cool breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass, and the sound of children laughing in the distance was oddly soothing.

I found a bench near the edge of the lake and sat down, letting my mind wander. My sketchbook was tucked under my arm, but I didn’t open it. Instead, I stared at the water, watching the ripples dance under the fading light.

“Running away from something?”

The voice startled me, and I turned to see Leo standing a few feet away, his hands in his pockets. His suit jacket was gone, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, giving him a more casual, approachable look.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

He shrugged, stepping closer. “Taking a walk. Same as you, I guess.”

I frowned, unsure whether to believe him. “Do you always walk around parks alone?”

“Only when I’m hoping to bump into someone interesting,” he said with a small smile.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the corner of my lips from twitching. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.”

“I’ve been called worse,” he said, sitting down on the bench beside me. He glanced at my sketchbook. “Drawing again?”

“No,” I said, shifting the book to my other side. “Not tonight.”

He tilted his head, studying me. “You seem… distracted.”

“Maybe because people keep showing up where I least expect them,” I said pointedly.

Leo chuckled, his gaze warm. “Fair enough. But for what it’s worth, I’m glad I ran into you.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I stayed silent, staring at the lake. The air between us was heavy, but not uncomfortable. It was as though we were both waiting for something—though I wasn’t sure what.

“You know,” he said after a while, his voice softer, “you don’t have to keep everything bottled up.”

I glanced at him, surprised by the shift in his tone. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” he said, leaning back and looking up at the sky, “it’s okay to let someone in. To trust that not everyone is out to hurt you.”

His words struck a nerve, and I looked away, my fingers tightening around the edge of the bench. “And what about you?” I asked quietly. “Why are you here, Leo? What do you want?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked out at the lake. “Honestly? I don’t know.”

I frowned, his response catching me off guard. “You don’t know?”

He shook his head. “I just know that when I saw you that day in the café, I felt… something. And I haven’t been able to shake it since.”

His admission left me speechless. I wanted to tell him he was crazy, that whatever he thought he felt wasn’t real. But the truth was, I felt it too—that strange pull, that connection that didn’t make any sense.

“I don’t know what you’re looking for,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m not sure I can give it to you.”

He looked at me then, his eyes filled with an intensity that made my heart race. “Maybe you don’t have to decide right now.”

The words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. Then he stood up, his movements slow and deliberate.

“I’ll see you around, Lila,” he said, his voice soft but certain.

And just like that, he was gon

e, leaving me alone on the bench with a whirlwind of emotions I didn’t know how to handle.

---

The next morning, I woke up to the buzzing of my phone. Groaning, I reached for it, squinting at the screen. A message from Jasmine, my closest friend since high school.

Jasmine: Girl, where are you hiding? Brunch at Sadie’s in an hour. No excuses!

I sighed, already knowing there was no way I could talk my way out of it. Jasmine was the kind of friend who could sense when I was spiraling, and she had a knack for pulling me back into the world when I wanted to disappear. And truthfully, I needed the distraction.

---

By the time I arrived at Sadie’s, a cozy little bistro tucked away in the heart of town, Jasmine was already there, sitting at a corner table with her long braids piled high on her head and a cappuccino in hand. Beside her was Ivy, her cousin and our mutual friend, who was scrolling through her phone with her usual air of detached elegance.

“Finally!” Jasmine exclaimed as I slid into the seat across from her. “You’ve been MIA for days. I was about to file a missing persons report.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled, reaching for the menu. “It’s been a… weird week.”

Ivy raised an eyebrow. “Weird how?”

I hesitated, unsure where to begin. But Jasmine wasn’t one to let things slide. She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Spill. Now.”

So I told them. About the café, about Leo’s mysterious charm and Ethan’s protective outburst. I left out the part about the park—some things were still too raw to share—but by the time I finished, Jasmine’s jaw had dropped, and Ivy was looking at me like I’d grown a second head.

“Wait,” Jasmine said, holding up a hand. “You’re telling me some rich, gorgeous guy just waltzed into the café and started flirting with you? Like, you?”

“Gee, thanks,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“You know what I mean,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “And Ethan—sweet, dependable Ethan—is jealous? Girl, this is like something out of a soap opera.”

“It’s not like that,” I protested, though my voice lacked conviction. “Leo’s just… I don’t know. He’s complicated. And Ethan’s just being Ethan.”

“Uh-huh,” Ivy said, her tone dripping with skepticism. “And how do you feel about all this?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, fiddling with the edge of my napkin. “It’s confusing. Leo makes me feel… alive, I guess. But Ethan—he’s always been there for me. He’s safe.”

Jasmine shook her head. “Safe is boring, babe. Go for the guy who makes your heart race.”

“Or,” Ivy cut in, her voice cool and measured, “you could take a step back and figure out what you want. Not what they want, or what Jasmine thinks is exciting.”

I glanced between them, my two best friends who couldn’t be more different. Jasmine was all fire and spontaneity, while Ivy was calm and practical. And right now, I wasn’t sure which one I needed more.

---

By the time I got back to my apartment, my head was spinning. Jasmine’s words echoed in my mind, but so did Ivy’s. Was I really ready to let someone like Leo into my life? And what would that mean for my friendship with Ethan?

I didn’t have time to dwell on it. A knock at my door broke through my thoughts, and I opened it to find Mrs. Carpenter, my elderly neighbor, holding a tray of cookies.

“Thought you could use a pick-me-up,” she said with a kind smile.

“Thanks, Mrs. Carpenter,” I said, taking the tray. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“Nonsense,” she said, waving me off. “You’ve been looking a little lost lately. Everything okay?”

I hesitated, caught off guard by her perceptiveness. “I’m fine. Just… life stuff.”

She nodded knowingly. “Well, if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me. And don’t forget—you’re stronger than you think.”

Her words stayed with me long after she’d gone. Maybe she was right. Maybe I needed to stop letting other people’s opinions dictate my choices.

---

The next day at work, things were… awkward. Ethan avoided eye contact, and I couldn’t seem to figure out how to break the tension. The bell above the door jingled, and I looked up, half-expecting to see Leo. Instead, it was a young woman I didn’t recognize, with sleek black hair and a confident stride.

She walked up to the counter and smiled. “Hi, I’m looking for Leo.”

My heart sank. “He’s not here.”

“Do you know when he’ll be back?” she asked, her tone polite but with an edge I couldn’t quite place.

“I don’t, sorry,” I said, forcing a smile. “Is there a message you’d like me to pass on?”

“No, that’s okay,” she said, her eyes scanning the café like she was looking for something—or someone. “I’ll catch him later.”

As she left, Ethan appeared at my side, his arms crossed. “Friend of his?”

“I have no idea,” I said honestly, though the encounter left me unsettled.

“Be careful, Lila,” he said, his voice low. “You don’t know what you’re getting into with him.”

And for the first time, I started to wonder if he was right.

---