Chapter 18
714 Words
Sara Michaels
The café on 7th was exactly the way I remembered it...warm fairy lights strung across the ceiling, soft jazz playing low enough that you could still hear the clink of cups and quiet laughter from other tables.
Ruby was already there when I walked in, waving from a corner booth with that big, bright smile she always had, like nothing in the world could dim it. I slid into the seat across from her, still wearing Kingsley’s jacket because I hadn’t wanted to take it off yet, and the moment I sat down she reached over and squeezed my hand.
“God, you look tired, babe,” she said, eyes soft but honest. “But still gorgeous. How are you holding up?”
I forced a small smile. “I’m… surviving. Barely. How about you? You said you’re moving back?”
She leaned forward, elbows on the table, voice dropping like we were sharing secrets. “Yes! Finally. My husband’s job is transferring him here permanently, so we’re packing up the whole place next month. I can’t wait to be close to you again. I’ve missed this..missed us just sitting and talking without a million interruptions.”
We ordered...coffee for me, latte for her, a plate of pastries to share even though neither of us was really hungry. The waitress left and Ruby leaned in closer, eyes sparkling with gossip.
“So… I saw something weird the other day,” she started, lowering her voice. “I was out running errands and I swear I saw Lucy with Emily Madrigo. Like, they were together, laughing, getting into the same car. Emily was all over her...arm around her shoulders, the whole thing.”
I froze with my cup halfway to my lips.
Lucy. With Emily.
The image from earlier flashed back...the black SUV, the way they walked so easily together, the laugh I thought I imagined.
My stomach twisted.
Ruby kept talking, not noticing how my face changed. “I mean, I didn’t think much of it at first, but Lucy looked so… happy? Like she was chasing fame or something. You know how she’s always been obsessed with being around important people. Emily’s a big name, so maybe she’s just trying to network. But it felt off. Lucy’s your best friend.....she wouldn’t be hanging with the woman who wrecked your marriage, right?”
I set the cup down carefully so it wouldn’t rattle against the saucer.
“Right,” I said, voice too quiet. “She wouldn’t.”
Ruby frowned, finally catching my expression. “Sara? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I stared at the table. The little sugar packet in front of me blurred.
“I… I thought I saw them earlier too. In a car. Laughing. But I told myself it was nothing. That I was imagining things because I’m tired.”
Ruby reached across the table and took my hand again. “Hey. If it was them… that’s not on you. That’s on Lucy. You’ve been nothing but loyal to her. If she’s choosing Emily over you, that’s her loss. Not yours.”
I nodded, but the knot in my stomach only tightened.
My phone was still on silent. I’d forgotten to turn the ringer back on after the hospital visit with Kingsley. I pulled it out now, just to check.
I saw one missed call from Tom and a text from Kingsley which I promised myself to reply to later.
There was no voicemail. Just the notification staring back at me.
I stared at it for a long second, thumb hovering over the screen.
Ruby watched me. “Everything okay?”
I slipped the phone back into my purse. “Yeah. Just… Tom.”
She made a face. “Ugh. Ignore him. You deserve a night without that man in your head.”
I tried to smile. Tried to laugh.
But all I could think about was Lucy’s face in that car laughing with Emily. Like she belonged there.
Like she’d always belonged there.
I could help but think deep inside, hearing a small, cold voice whispering.
*What else have you missed?*
*What else has been happening right in front of you?*
I sipped my coffee.
It tasted bitter.
Even with the sugar.
- Writer
