Chapter 16: Coffee and Complications
983 Words
Emma wasn’t sure why she agreed to meet Aiden for coffee.
Maybe it was stubbornness. Maybe it was defiance—proving to herself (and Olivia) that she wasn’t some foolish girl falling into a trap. Or maybe, just maybe, it was because a part of her wanted to see him.
Either way, she found herself standing outside a cozy little café the next morning, heart pounding as she spotted Aiden already seated at a table by the window.
The moment he saw her, he grinned and waved.
Emma sighed and walked inside.
“You’re late,” Aiden teased as she sat across from him.
Emma raised an eyebrow. “I said morning. That means anytime before noon.”
He chuckled. “Fair enough.”
Aiden pushed a cup of coffee toward her. “Black, no sugar, right?”
Emma blinked. “How did you—”
He smirked. “I pay attention.”
That threw her off more than she wanted to admit. She took a sip, using the cup as an excuse to avoid his gaze.
Aiden leaned back in his chair, studying her. “So, to what do I owe the honor of your company today?”
Emma scoffed. “You invited me.”
“Yeah, but you actually agreed. Which means you’re starting to like me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t push your luck.”
Aiden chuckled but didn’t argue. Instead, he took a sip of his coffee and tapped his fingers against the table. “Alright, since we’re here, let’s play a game.”
Emma narrowed her eyes. “What kind of game?”
He grinned. “Two truths and a lie.”
Emma hesitated. “Seriously?”
“Come on, it’ll be fun.”
She sighed. “Fine. You go first.”
Aiden smirked. “Okay. One—I can ride a motorcycle. Two—I once auditioned for a Broadway musical. Three—I got detention in high school for sneaking out of class.”
Emma frowned, studying him. “The motorcycle is true. I can totally see you being reckless.”
Aiden chuckled. “Fair.”
She tapped her chin. “The detention story also sounds true. I bet you were a nightmare as a teenager.”
“Hey, I was charming,” he said, feigning offense.
Emma smirked. “Which means… the Broadway audition is the lie.”
Aiden shook his head. “Wrong.”
Her eyes widened. “Wait. You actually auditioned for Broadway?”
He grinned. “Yep. Didn’t get the part, though.”
Emma leaned forward. “What was the show?”
Aiden winced. “Les Misérables.”
She blinked. Then burst out laughing. “Oh my God. Please tell me you sang On My Own.”
Aiden groaned. “It was Bring Him Home, thank you very much.”
Emma wiped a tear from her eye. “I would pay to see that.”
He smirked. “If you ask nicely, maybe I’ll sing it for you.”
Emma rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling.
“Alright, your turn,” Aiden said.
Emma thought for a moment. “Okay. One—I once met a famous author by accident. Two—I have a terrible sense of direction. Three—I hate coffee.”
Aiden immediately leaned forward. “The last one is a lie.”
Emma frowned. “That was fast.”
He smirked. “No one who works in a bookstore hates coffee. That would be blasphemy.”
She laughed. “Okay, fair point.”
Aiden tilted his head. “So, which author did you meet?”
Emma smiled. “Margaret Atwood.”
His eyes widened. “Seriously?”
She nodded. “She walked into the bookstore when I was working the counter one day. I almost fainted.”
Aiden grinned. “That’s pretty cool.”
Emma shrugged. “I guess.”
They fell into a comfortable silence, sipping their coffee. For a moment, it felt easy.
And that was dangerous.
Because Emma knew the truth—Aiden Carter wasn’t the kind of man who stuck around.
She thought of Olivia’s words. He gets bored.
Emma exhaled and set down her cup. “So… what’s next for you?”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, after all this. After the cameras go away. After your ‘small town distraction’ runs its course.”
Aiden’s expression shifted, his smirk fading slightly. “Is that what you think this is?”
Emma met his gaze. “Isn’t it?”
For the first time, Aiden looked… serious. “Emma—”
Before he could finish, his phone buzzed on the table. He sighed, running a hand through his hair before glancing at the screen.
Something flickered across his face—something frustrated.
Emma crossed her arms. “You should answer it.”
Aiden hesitated. Then, with a sigh, he picked up the call. “Yeah?”
Emma took the opportunity to study him.
She had spent so much time convincing herself that he was just an arrogant celebrity, that she had ignored the parts of him that didn’t fit that narrative. The way he actually listened when she talked. The way he remembered things about her. The way he looked at her sometimes—like she wasn’t just some temporary part of his life.
But maybe that was just wishful thinking.
Aiden ended the call and exhaled. “I have to go.”
Emma nodded, ignoring the slight pang in her chest. “Of course.”
Aiden hesitated, as if he wanted to say something. But instead, he grabbed his jacket and stood. “See you later, Sunshine.”
Emma watched him leave, the warmth from their conversation fading with him.
And for the first time, she wondered if maybe she had already crossed a line she couldn’t step back from.
- Writer
