CHAPTER SIX: UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1401 Words
The next morning, Liam parked his truck in front of Harbor Books, already regretting the impulsive decision to drop by. He had told himself it was a casual visit, an excuse to pick up a coffee and browse, but deep down, he knew the truth. His mind was full of Elena.
The door chimed as he stepped inside, the familiar scent of old paper and fresh espresso wrapping around him. Elena stood behind the counter, her hair tied up in a loose bun. She hadn’t noticed him yet, which gave him a brief moment to take her in. She looked different—older, yes, but there was a quiet strength in her now that hadn’t been there before.
“Liam.”
Her voice startled him out of his thoughts. She had spotted him, her expression a mixture of curiosity and caution.
“Hey,” he said, forcing a casual tone. “Thought I’d stop by for coffee. You know, support local businesses.”
Her lips twitched, almost a smile. “Sure. Black, right?”
“You remember.”
“It’s not like you’ve changed that much,” she said, turning to the coffee machine. “Still driving that old truck, still drinking coffee strong enough to wake the dead.”
Liam chuckled. “What can I say? I’m a creature of habit.”
Their banter felt almost normal, almost like old times. But the moment was short-lived.
The door chimed again, and Liam turned, his smile freezing in place.
“Liam?”
The voice was unmistakable.
Claire.
She stood in the doorway, her perfectly styled hair and tailored coat out of place in the cozy, small-town shop.
“Claire,” Liam said, his voice tight.
Elena’s movements stilled, her hands pausing over the coffee machine.
Claire’s eyes flicked to Elena, then back to Liam, her smile faltering for a moment before she masked it with practiced ease. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I could say the same,” Liam said, his tone clipped.
“I was passing through town for a meeting,” Claire said, brushing an invisible speck of dust from her coat. “Thought I’d drop in and see you. It’s been a while.”
Elena cleared her throat, breaking the tension. “Your coffee,” she said, sliding the cup toward Liam. Her tone was neutral, but her gaze lingered on Claire, as though trying to piece together the situation.
Claire smiled brightly at Elena. “And you are?”
“Elena,” she said, her voice steady.
“Ah.” Claire’s smile widened, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “The Elena.”
Liam winced, feeling the tension coil in his chest.
“Yes,” Elena said, meeting Claire’s gaze head-on. “The Elena.”
The air crackled with unspoken words, and Liam felt like he was standing between two live wires.
“I should go,” Claire said, her voice light but forced. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She turned to Liam, her hand brushing his arm. “Call me sometime, okay?”
Before he could respond, she was gone, the door chiming softly behind her.
Elena didn’t say anything, just turned back to the coffee machine and busied herself wiping the counter. The silence between them felt suffocating.
“Elena,” Liam started.
“It’s fine,” she said quickly. “None of my business.”
“Nothing is going on with Claire,” he said, his tone firm. “We’re not... It’s over.”
Elena looked up then, her eyes sharp. “Why do I get the feeling that ‘over’ isn’t the same as ‘forgotten’?”
Liam opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. Instead, he looked at Elena, his heart heavy with the realization that she was right. He hadn’t forgotten. He hadn’t truly let go.
---
Later that evening
Liam sat on the edge of his bed, his guitar resting on his lap. The encounter with Claire had unsettled him, but it was Elena’s words that wouldn’t leave his mind.
“Why do I get the feeling that ‘over’ isn’t the same as ‘forgotten’?”
She was right, of course. Claire wasn’t just a chapter he had closed; she was part of the wreckage he hadn’t fully cleaned up.
He strummed his guitar aimlessly, the sound almost drowning out his thoughts. He wanted to get lost in the music, to bury everything that was weighing on him. But the melodies came out jagged, broken, just like the parts of his life he couldn’t fix.
A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. He frowned, not expecting company.
When he opened the door, Maggie stood on his porch, her arms crossed and an expression that could cut steel.
“We need to talk,” she said, brushing past him without waiting for an invitation.
“Nice to see you too,” Liam muttered, closing the door behind her.
Maggie spun to face him, her hands on her hips. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“Come again?”
“Elena,” Maggie said, exasperated. “You’re all over the place, Liam. One minute you’re swooping in to help her, the next you’re letting your ex waltz into her bookstore like a scene from a soap opera.”
“I didn’t let Claire do anything,” Liam said defensively, his jaw tightening.
Maggie arched a brow. “Then why didn’t you tell her to leave?”
“Because it’s not that simple,” Liam said, running a hand through his hair. “Claire and I... It’s complicated.”
“No, Liam,” Maggie said, stepping closer. “It’s only complicated because you let it be. You need to decide what you want, and you need to do it now. Because if you keep dragging Elena into your mess, you’re going to lose her. Again.”
Liam stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. He had been avoiding the truth, but now it felt like it was being shoved down his throat.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her,” he said quietly, his voice barely audible.
“I know,” Maggie said, her tone softening. “But intentions don’t matter if the outcome is the same.”
Liam sank onto the couch, his head in his hands. He had spent so long trying to bury the past, trying to move forward, but now it felt like everything was unraveling. The closer he got to Elena, the more the past pulled at him, threatening to drag him under.
Maggie sighed and sat down beside him. “Look, I’m not trying to be the bad guy here. I just... Elena’s been through enough. If you’re going to be in her life, you need to be all in. No more ghosts from the past, no more half-measures. She deserves that much.”
Liam nodded, though his mind was a whirlwind. He knew Maggie was right, but knowing and doing were two very different things.
---
That night,
Elena sat on her bed, her sketchpad balanced on her knees. She had tried to distract herself with drawing, but her mind kept drifting back to the day’s events.
Claire’s arrival had been like a slap in the face, a stark reminder that Liam’s life had gone on without her. And yet, the way he had looked at her, the way he had tried to explain—it didn’t add up.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking her train of thought. She picked it up, her heart skipping a beat when she saw an unknown number.
The message was short but chilling.
“Be careful who you trust.”
Elena stared at the screen, her pulse racing. Who was this from? Why did it feel so threatening?
For a moment, she considered calling Liam, but something held her back. She didn’t know who the message was from or what it meant, but one thing was clear.
The past wasn’t just haunting her. It was coming for her.
She dropped the phone onto the bed, her mind racing. She had to focus, to stay strong, but the fear gnawed at her. What if this was just the beginning? What if the past—her past with Liam—wasn’t the only thing she needed to fear?
---
- Writer
