the first glace

Chapter 3:burning bridges

The coffee shop was quiet except for the low hum of chatter and the occasional clink of a spoon against a mug. Olivia sat by the window, her hands wrapped tightly around her cup as though it was the only thing tethering her to the moment. She had been sitting there for twenty minutes, rehearsing what she would say. Every time she thought she had the words, they slipped away, leaving her grasping at empty air.

When the door swung open, and Liam walked in, her stomach knotted. He looked the same—messy brown hair, that confident stride—but there was something different about the way he carried himself. Hesitation. He saw her and offered a small, cautious smile before heading to the counter to order. Olivia looked away, watching the rain streak down the windowpane.

A minute later, he slid into the chair across from her. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she replied, her voice quieter than she intended.

They sat in silence for a moment, the tension between them palpable. Liam stirred his coffee absently, avoiding her gaze. Olivia finally set her cup down and took a deep breath.

“I think we both know why we’re here,” she said.

Liam glanced up, his hazel eyes meeting hers. “Do we?”

“Don’t,” she said, sharper than she intended. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know.”

His jaw tightened. “Olivia, I’m not pretending. I’m trying to understand what you want me to say.”

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “How about the truth for once? How about admitting that you lied to me, over and over, while I defended you to everyone?”

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

“Well, congratulations,” she snapped. “Because you did. You didn’t just hurt me—you made me doubt everything. Every conversation, every promise, every plan. Was any of it real?”

“Of course it was!” he said, his voice rising. “You think I faked everything? That I didn’t care about you at all?”

“I don’t know what to think anymore,” Olivia said, her voice breaking. “You were my best friend, Liam. The one person I thought I could always count on. And then I find out you’ve been…” She trailed off, shaking her head as tears threatened to spill.

Liam looked down at his coffee, his shoulders slumping. “I made mistakes, okay? I was stupid and selfish, and I didn’t think about how it would affect you. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t care.”

“Sometimes caring isn’t enough,” Olivia said quietly. “Sometimes the damage is too much to fix.”

He looked up at her, and for a moment, she saw the boy she used to know—the one who used to make her laugh until her sides hurt, who would stay up with her on the phone for hours when she couldn’t sleep. But that boy was gone, replaced by someone she didn’t recognize.

“So, what now?” he asked, his voice heavy.

Olivia took a long sip of her coffee, as if it could give her the strength she needed. “Now, we move on. Separately.”

Liam’s face fell, but he didn’t argue. “I guess I deserve that.”

“It’s not about deserving,” Olivia said. “It’s about me not being able to.”