The cold air stung Mia's cheeks as she watched Lukas walk away. David's words still lingered in her mind, but Lukas's sudden appearance and cryptic parting statement pulled her attention away.
David stepped closer. "Who was that?"
Mia turned to him, her voice sharp. "Someone who doesn't owe me an explanation for their presence, unlike you."
David flinched but held his ground. "I deserve that. But I meant what I said, Mia—I'm not here to hurt you. I just need a chance to make things right."
Mia sighed, exhausted by the whirlwind of emotions. "I've had enough for tonight, David. You showing up out of nowhere doesn't mean I owe you my time or forgiveness."
David hesitated before nodding. "I'll back off for now. But I'm not giving up on us, Mia."
Mia shook her head and turned away, her focus shifting to Lukas's parting words. She locked the café doors, steeling herself for what was to come.
---
Lukas was waiting near the corner of the street, his tall figure illuminated by the soft glow of a streetlamp. He glanced up as Mia approached, his expression unreadable.
"You came," she said softly, unsure how to begin.
"You looked like you needed someone to interrupt," Lukas said, his tone neutral but laced with a hint of tension.
Mia stopped a few feet away, crossing her arms. "You said we needed to talk. So, talk."
Lukas studied her, his gaze intense. "I saw how shaken you were, Mia. I didn't want to leave you alone with someone who clearly stirred up your past. But now I wonder—should I have?"
Mia blinked, taken aback. "Why does it matter to you?"
"It doesn't," Lukas said quickly, though his tone betrayed him. "Not in the way you think. But I've seen how much effort you've put into building your life here, and I don't want to see it undone because of someone who walked out on you."
"That's not your decision to make," Mia shot back, her frustration boiling over. "You don't know anything about what David and I had—or how much it hurt when he left."
Lukas's jaw tightened. "I don't need to know. All I see is someone who walked back into your life expecting things to be the same, and you—standing there, torn between anger and hope."
Mia opened her mouth to argue but stopped. He wasn't wrong.
---
The silence stretched between them before Lukas spoke again, his voice softer this time. "Mia, I've spent years trying to keep people at arm's length. But there's something about you—you make it hard to keep my distance."
Mia's heart skipped a beat, and she tried to ignore the warmth spreading in her chest. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you need to hear it," Lukas said simply. "Whatever happens with him, just remember—your worth isn't tied to anyone's approval or apology."
Mia swallowed hard, his words cutting deeper than she expected. "Lukas..."
He held up a hand. "You don't need to say anything. Just promise me you'll think about it."
Mia nodded, unable to trust her voice.
---
The walk back to her apartment was quiet, each step heavy with unspoken emotions. As Mia lay in bed that night, her thoughts replayed Lukas's words over and over.
The next day at the café, things felt... different. Lukas didn't show up, and even Greta noticed Mia's subdued mood.
"What's going on with you?" Greta asked as they prepped for the lunch rush. "You've been acting weird since last night."
"It's complicated," Mia muttered, focusing on frothing milk for a latte.
Greta raised an eyebrow. "Does it have anything to do with that mystery man from last night? Or is it about the violinist?"
Mia nearly spilled the milk. "Greta, please. Can we not do this right now?"
Greta smirked but backed off. "Fine, but I'm here when you're ready to spill."
---
As the day went on, Mia couldn't shake the feeling that she was standing at a crossroads. David's return had dredged up old wounds, but Lukas's words had awakened something new—a realization that she had spent so much time looking backward that she hadn't considered the possibility of looking forward.
By the time the café closed for the night, Mia felt no closer to clarity. But one thing was certain: she couldn't avoid the storm brewing inside her.
Would Lukas's presence in her life be fleeting, or was there something more? And what about David—did he truly deserve another chance?
As Mia turned off the lights and locked up, she made a decision. Tomorrow, she would confront her feelings head-on. It was time to take control of her story.