"Hailey's POV "
I spotted Sophie at out usual corner, sipping her drink with that calm, princess-like grace of hers. An unopened cup sat across from her - clearly mine.
She turned, mouthing a bright "hi", her eyes sparkling like a kid who had just seen her mom. I smiled back. She already knew I had stories to unload.
"You got me a drink? Thanks", I slid into the seat after hugging her from the side.
"Yeah, but it's not as good as your café's" she shrugged.
I chuckled. "Last time I checked, I don't even own a pen, much less a café."
"You know what I mean. Why don't you like meeting up there anyway? It'd easier for you."
I nearly choked on my first sip. "Nope. I like keeping my private life...private."
My gaze dropped to my cup so she wouldn't read ne too easily. If we met at my workplace, I'd definitely be uncomfortable. But more than that, Sophie would figure out I'd been covering shifts for practically everyone, and she'd be furious.
"You're avoiding eye contact," She said flatly. "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing," I replied, a little too high-pitched. Suspicious much? Great. I pinched my arm under the table. "Besides, their snacks are overpriced. "
"But worth it. I'd rather eat theirs and boost your café's sales than whatever this is." She poked at the table.
I arched a brow at her. "Excuse me? This is your boyfriend's shop, remember? Shouldn't you be the one supporting him?"
Her cheeks flushed the faintest pink, but she rolled her eyes to cover it. "Whatever. He needs to step it up if he wants my praise."
Her eyes brightened suddenly. "Speaking of, I got you something..."
I leaned in, half-expecting something dramatic.
"Pizza!" She announced, like it was a treasure.
I groaned, laughing. "Wow. I was hoping for a private jet."
"Patience, my girl. We'll get there someday." She flicked her ponytail, grinning.
I couldn't help smiling. Sophie was impossible not to love.
"But are we allowed to eat this here? Isn't it against the rules?" I asked, then realized the answer the moment it left my mouth.
She smirked. "Relax. I talked to the owner. He wouldn't dare say no."
"But still, if people see, they'll think he's playing favourites."
"Well, he should. And actually..." She leaned I'm conspiratiorially. "We're the only ones here."
Oh. Right. The empty tables suddenly felt obvious. Sorry, Brian.
My stomach growled right on cue, and Sophie snorted.
"See? Even your body's thanking me." She shoved the pizza box closer.
I rolled my eyes but grabbed a slice and took a bite.
"Mm. Okay, fine. You win," I mumbled around the mouthful.
Sophie grinned triumphantly, already halfway through her own slice. "Told you. This is happiness in a box."
I laughed, wiping my fingers with a napkin. "Pretty sure happiness doesn't drip grease all over your lap."
"Sacrifices must be made," She said solemnly, then immediately licked sauce off her thumb.
I shook my head, but honestly, it felt good. Just the two of us, food on the table, and Sophie's ridiculous commentary filling the air. For a moment, the weight of earlier didn't press so hard.
"Anyway--" Sophie's eyes narrowed at me, gleaming with curiosity. "How was work today? Your face says you've got tea to spill."
How did she always know? This girl had superpowers.
"I gave in with a sigh. "You won't believe what happened today."
She perked up, adjusting her seat like she was bracing for a performance. "Spill."
"This guy walked into the café- you know the type. The ones who think the whole world should feel blessed just to breathe the same air as them." I wrinkled my nose.
Sophie nearly choked on her drink. "Oh no, please tell me you didn't entertain him?"
"Entertain?" I scoffed. "More like ignore."
She burst into laughter.
"I'm serious, Sophie. I had to stop myself from slapping him."
"I believe you," She said through giggles.
"When I shut him down, he looked so shocked. Like I was supposed to swoon or something."
Sophie leaned forward, palms slamming the table. "Details, girl. Details. What did he do? What did he say? Don't hold back."
I laughed at her dramatics. "Calm down. Honestly, I didn't even give him a chance. Just shut him out. But you should've seen his face. I'm sure he's not used to that. At all."
Sophie leaned back, satisfied. "Good. Guys like that need a reality check. High five."
I smacked her hand with a grin and sipped my drink.
"But..." she said, clearing her throat.
I froze mid-sip. "But?"
Her gaze softened, studying me. "You wouldn't be this riled up if he hadn't gotten under your skin. Just a little."
I shot her a glare. "Don't start."
She raised both hands in mock surrender, smirking the way she always did when she knew she was right. "Uh-huh. Sure. Just...be careful. You know how guys like that are. If you don't melt right away, making you change your mind becomes their mission."
I brushed it off with a laugh, but her words stuck heavier than I wanted to admit. Because deep down, I'd seen that look in his eyes before I turned away.
Like he wasn't finished with me yet.
And the thought of that worried me more than I dared let Sophie find out.
We finished eating and I stopped by the market like i had originally planned. I needed a few household things and groceries, and Sophie, of course, tagged along. She spent the whole walk chattering about everything under the sun- her coursemates, her lecturer's bad habit of spitting when he talked, even her neighbour's dog that apparently hated everyone but her. I laughed where I could, hummed along when I didn't have much to add, and gave the occasional "mhmm" so she'd know I was listening. That was the thing about Sophie - silence never lasted around her.
Eventually we parted ways, and I headed home alone. The streets felt darker than usual, shadows stretching long and thin under the flickering streetlights, like a scene from a horror movie. My footsteps sounded too loud in the quiet, and I quickened my pace without even realising it. Women, night and lonely streets were not exactly the safest combination.
Brian had offered to walk me home earlier, but I'd refuses. He and Sophie were supposed to have a date, and I'd already stolen alnost two hours of that time. No way was I going to be that girl who interrupted. Better to be a little scared than be an inconvenience.
By the time I reached my door, it felt like I'd been walking for hours. My heart thudded as I fumbled my bag. Tell me why I never kept my keys handy. After what felt like forever, my fingers brushed against the cold metal. Relief. I pushed the door open, and the sight of my bed waiting for me was nothing short of heaven.
I didn't bother with the groceries or changing out of my clothes. I just collapsed face-first onto the mattress.
It had been a long day. And sleep claimed me almost instantly.
But somewhere in the blur before dreams took over, his face flickered in my mind, the stranger with the smug eyes. I shook it off. The last thing I needed was some arrogant guy I barely knew invading my sleep too.
Still, as exhaustion finally dragged me under, one thought lingered, quiet but stubborn.
This wasn't the last time I'd see him.