The weekend after her birthday had passed in a blur of errands, leftover party cleanup, and work that had piled up over the week. Yet, despite the mundanity of adult life, Mia's mind refused to settle. Every quiet moment was punctuated by flashes of Liam's voice—the warm, familiar tone she hadn't realized she'd missed until last Friday—and the unspoken awareness of Ace, whose presence seemed to linger at the edges of her thoughts whether she liked it or not.
She tried to bury herself in work, diving into contracts and proposals for her small publishing startup, but each time her phone buzzed, a spike of anxiety flared in her chest. Not from clients. Not from deadlines. From the real possibility that Liam might reach out again, that he might attempt to bridge the gap he had left behind years ago.
By Friday morning, she gave up the pretense of focus. She needed support. She needed someone to help her untangle the mess of emotions swirling inside her. So, as usual, she found herself at The Copper Bean, a warm, quiet café she and her friends frequented. Its soft lighting and secluded booths felt like the perfect refuge from the chaos of her thoughts.
Lily and James were already seated at their usual table near the window, two steaming lattes in front of them. Lily's expression was calm, perceptive, yet tinged with concern, while James's brow was furrowed in the way that said he knew more than he was letting on.
"You look like you just carried an entire city on your back," James said, smirking as Mia slid into the seat across from him.
Mia laughed softly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Something like that," she admitted. She set her bag down, exhaling as though trying to let go of some invisible weight.
Lily tilted her head, regarding her with the sharp, intuitive gaze Mia had come to rely on. "It's Liam, isn't it?"
Mia's chest tightened. "Yeah," she admitted. "He's back. And I don't know how to handle it."
James shook his head in disbelief. "Seriously, Mia, he just disappears for years, and now he waltzes back into your life expecting everything to be… normal? Does he even realize what he did?"
Mia's fingers fidgeted around the handle of her coffee cup. "I know… I haven't forgotten. I just… it's complicated. I still…" She trailed off, unable to articulate the tangle of longing, resentment, and guilt.
Lily reached over, placing her hand gently on Mia's. "It's okay to feel conflicted. That doesn't make you weak. But remember—you have people here who won't let anyone hurt you again."
Mia's throat tightened. She appreciated Lily's calm, unwavering presence, and James's blunt honesty, but the gnawing knot of past memories and present tension refused to loosen.
At that moment, Ace appeared, sliding into the seat across from her. He leaned back casually, arms folded, smirk tugging at his lips, but his eyes were sharp, scanning her like he could read her thoughts.
"Talking about me?" he asked lightly, voice teasing, though his gaze carried an intensity that made Mia's chest thrum.
James snorted. "Uh-oh. Jealous already?"
Ace ignored him, focusing on Mia. "You okay?" he asked quietly, tone even but eyes unflinching. "You seem… off."
Mia forced a smile, but her chest tightened. "I'm fine," she said, though her heart contradicted her words.
"You're not," Ace said softly. "I can see it. I'm not letting Liam mess with you like this."
Heat rose to her cheeks. "Ace, it's complicated," she murmured, trying to steady herself.
"You mean like the way he still has this effect on you?" Ace said, barely above a whisper, his gaze intent.
Mia's fingers tightened around her cup. "I'm not—"
"Enough with the cryptic statements," Lily interrupted, calm but firm. "Mia, we're here for you. Ace, back off—but we know your concern is genuine."
James leaned forward, frowning. "Seriously. He doesn't get a free pass. Liam left, and he doesn't get to just waltz back in and pretend like nothing happened."
Mia swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their words. She wanted to reconcile with Liam, but she also realized the importance of boundaries—and how much she relied on these friends to help her see clearly.
The café door opened, and Liam stepped inside, scanning the tables until his gaze landed on Mia. His expression softened when he saw her, but Ace's posture stiffened, protective and taut.
Mia felt her stomach twist. She wasn't ready for a confrontation—not in public, not with Ace, Lily, and James nearby. She opened her mouth to excuse herself, but Liam's voice called out:
"Mia, can we talk?"
Her chest fluttered. Lily squeezed her hand, whispering, "You're strong. You set the pace."
Ace leaned forward slightly, tone low but firm. "And he's going to respect it. You're in control here, Mia. Not him."
Liam's eyes flicked to Ace, frustration flickering, but he nodded, acknowledging the unspoken rules.
Mia took a deep breath. "We can talk," she said slowly, "but only for a few minutes."
Ace's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't object further. Lily and James subtly followed at a distance, ready to intervene if necessary.
They stepped outside into the quiet courtyard, away from the hum of the café and the prying eyes of passersby. The city's sounds became a distant murmur as Liam turned to face her, expression earnest.
"I know I hurt you," he began, voice low, sincere. "I didn't know how to handle things back then. But I never stopped caring about you."
Mia's throat tightened. "Liam… it's not that simple. I want to forgive you, but I can't just forget what happened. It… it took me a long time to heal."
He nodded slowly, guilt and regret shadowing his features. "I understand. I'll wait. I'll do whatever it takes to earn back your trust. Even if it's just a friendship. I just… I want you in my life again."
Mia swallowed hard, feeling a mixture of old affection and cautious skepticism. Her past with him was a deep, complicated knot, and she wasn't ready to undo it. Not yet.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Ace's hands clench, but he stayed silent, his protective aura as palpable as ever. Lily and James exchanged glances, a silent code of support.
"I… I need time," Mia said finally. "Time to process everything. You need to respect that."
"I will," Liam said earnestly, taking a small step back. "I promise. I'm not here to pressure you."
The tension didn't dissipate entirely. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, old memories, and new awareness. Mia realized the complexity of her emotions: Liam's sincerity pulled at her past, but Ace's presence anchored her present. She needed to navigate this carefully, with clear boundaries, patience, and a strong sense of self.
Lily stepped closer, resting a hand lightly on Mia's shoulder. "Breathe, Mia. You're doing fine. Don't let guilt or nostalgia rush you into a decision."
James added, "And remember, Ace is here too. He's not going anywhere. He's on your side."
Mia's chest tightened. The slow burn between her, Liam, and Ace was far from over. Each glance, each careful word, each subtle shift in posture carried meaning. She realized she was at the center of a complicated dance, navigating past and present, old love and something new.
She looked at Ace, who met her gaze with a quiet intensity that left her breathless, and at Liam, whose hopeful expression reminded her of what once was. And she knew, silently, that she was not ready to choose—not yet—but that she would not be passive either.
The slow burn had only thickened, and Mia, for the first time, allowed herself to acknowledge it fully: she was ready to face it. She just had to figure out exactly how, and with whom, one careful step at a time.