The restaurant glowed under the late afternoon sun, the light pouring in through the glass walls, casting soft shadows on the floor.
Zoe moved quickly through the kitchen pass, handing an order to the chef while balancing another tray. Her apron was slightly wrinkled, hair tied back tightly, her smile polite but tired.
She pushed through the door and stepped onto the patio with practiced ease.
"Here are your orders, ma'am." Zoe placed the food on the patio table, voice steady but tired.
The woman before her looked up in surprise. "Zoe??"
Zoe froze for a heartbeat, then saw who it was. "Lesley?" Her tone was low, pained.
Lesley studied Zoe—her uniform, the way she carried the tray, the forced smile. Understanding.
"Let's talk later," Lesley said. "I'll wait until you finish your shift."
Just then, a voice called from inside.
"Zoe! Table four's asking for water."
Zoe nodded quickly, flustered. "Okay."
-
Later that evening, in the locker room, Zoe changed into a corporate-style dress—one that said "secretary," even though that wasn't her whole truth.
Her shift is done, she stepped outside into the cooler air. Lesley was waiting, leaning against her car.
"Hey." Lesley gestured toward a nearby café. "Coffee?"
Zoe brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face. "Yeah."
-
Inside the café, the smell of roasted beans and steamed milk wrapped around them. Lesley sipped her latte, eyes searching Zoe's face.
"So... how are you, Zoe?"
"I'm fine," Zoe said quietly, her eyes tired but trying to smile. "And if you're asking about what you saw today... yes. I'm working as a waitress at that restaurant."
Lesley's eyes widened. "Wait—does Stacy know? I mean... I know how protective she is when it comes to you."
Zoe hesitated. Her gaze dropped to the floor, hands fidgeting in her lap. Silence spoke louder than words.
Lesley leaned back, exhaling. "I guess that's a no."
Zoe nodded slowly. "No... I haven't told her. I told her I got a job as a secretary."
Lesley looked her up and down, taking in the pressed blouse and pencil skirt that didn't quite hide the fatigue in Zoe's posture. "That explains the office outfit you're still wearing."
Zoe gave a weak smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "It's easier this way. If she knew I was bussing tables and mopping floors just to help pay the bills, she'd tell me to quit. She'd rather struggle than see me doing that."
Lesley's expression softened. "She loves you. She just doesn't want the world to be cruel to you."
"I know," Zoe whispered. "That's why I lied. Because I love her too."
Lesley fell silent, her expression shifting as if the truth had landed heavier than she expected.
Zoe's voice cracked a little as she continued, "Please... please don't tell her yet, Lesley. I—I need it to stay that way."
Lesley didn't respond at first. She just looked at her. Really looked.
"I won't," she said gently. "It's not my place. But... you know she deserves the truth, right?"
Zoe swallowed hard. Her shoulders sagged under invisible weight.
"I know."
"I'm not judging you. I know things are hard right now. For both of you. But Zoe... hiding things like this? It chips away at trust. And you two—you're all you've got. You need each other whole."
Zoe blinked back sudden tears. "We're already struggling. Money. Pressure. The whole world looking at us like we're a mistake. And Stacy... she's already lost so much. His father disowned her. Her name is poison in her father's circles. She gave up everything for me."
Lesley was quiet, letting her speak.
"I just... I didn't want her to think that being with her had made my life worse. I couldn't stand the thought. So I lied. I put on a blazer and told her stories about coffee runs and client meetings, because if she thought I was doing okay, maybe she could breathe a little easier."
Her voice broke.
"I wanted her to feel like things were getting better. Even if I had to carry the weight to make that happen."
Lesley reached across the table and gently covered Zoe's hand with her own.
"You're not wrong to protect her," she said softly. "But don't protect her at the cost of your own truth. Love like that only works when it's honest—even when it's hard."
Zoe nodded, lips pressed tight, the tears finally spilling down her cheeks.
Then she let out a shaky breath, squeezing Lesley's hand as she wiped at her tears, knowing that sooner or later she would have to choose honesty—not because it was easy, but because it was the only way love could truly survive.