The coffee shop buzzed with the low hum of conversation and the hiss of steaming milk.Tovia sat at a corner table, her laptop open but untouched, idly stirring her iced latte. She wasn’t expecting company — which is why she nearly choked when Adam shadow fell across her table.
“Tovia,” Dave said, his voice deceptively casual. “Mind if I join you?”
Her first instinct was to say hell no, but she forced a polite smile. “Uh… sure.”
He sat down, leaning back like he had all the time in the world, but his eyes were razor-sharp, studying her every move.
“So,” he began, “I saw Nora at the party. And… with her new man.”
Tovia sipped her drink slowly, buying herself time. “Yeah… Jason.”
“Right. Jason,” Dave repeated, like he was testing the name. “How long have they been together?”
Tovia hes
