Chapter 16: Part 3 - Meeting an Old Flame

I fired off a quick text to Sarah, letting her know I was starting the midnight shift at the café and that I'd see her later for breakfast. The message sat stubbornly unread.

I locked my phone and slipped it back into my pocket, exhaling slowly. It was ridiculous to feel this jittery over something as small as forgetting to tell her. But maybe—just maybe—I was hoping Sarah would acknowledge this step forward. Maybe I wanted her to see me as someone capable, someone worth noticing outside of our tangled mess of emotions.

The door jingled behind me, and I instinctively stepped aside to let whoever it was pass, focusing on finishing my coffee before heading to the kitchen.

"Chris?"

The voice—soft, honeyed, and achingly familiar—stopped me mid-sip. Before I could turn, a warm hand curled around my forearm, and I found myself face-to-face with a body I hadn't seen in years.

"Marilyn?" My voice caught as I stared at her beaming face, framed by soft curls that spilled over her shoulders. She still had that disarming smile—and the same way of leaning just a little too close, her body pressing against mine like it belonged there.

"Chris! It is you!" Marilyn's eyes sparkled as she gave my arm an affectionate squeeze. "How delightful! Are you starting the internship too?"

I forced a smile, willing my brain to catch up with the moment. "Yeah, I just got the call a few hours ago. Ruby seemed pretty excited to have me on board—which is… refreshing, I guess."

Marilyn grinned, tilting her head slightly. "I hope you're ready for this. Kitchens are war zones, and I know how much you love a challenge."

I laughed lightly. "Let's just say I'm hoping we don't argue as much as we did in college."

"Oh, but that was half the fun," Marilyn teased, her voice dropping to a softer, more playful tone. She stepped in closer, brushing her shoulder against mine. "You know, after work, maybe we could pick up where we left off—in a more intimate setting."

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, it felt like old habits threatening to pull me back in. Marilyn had always been magnetic, a storm you didn't see coming until it was already sweeping you off your feet.

I took a deliberate step back, putting some space between us. "I'm—uh—sorry. I'm kind of… not available right now."

Marilyn's eyes flickered, but she recovered quickly, her smile never faltering. "Oh! My bad. How bold of me." She let go of my arm and folded her hands in front of her.

"No, it's fine." I rubbed the back of my neck, searching for the right words. "It's just that things are… complicated. I'm involved with someone right now, and it wouldn't be fair to you if I—"

Marilyn clapped her hands together, beaming like I'd just told her I'd won the lottery. "Why, Christina Fairfield! Thoughtful, considerate, and turning down opportunities to date more than three people at once? I am impressed!"

I groaned and bit my lip. "Why does everyone keep saying that? I am mature. I make mature decisions…" My voice trailed off, irritation bubbling just under the surface. "I think."

Marilyn laughed, the sound rich and unrestrained. "Relax, Chris. I'm just messing with you." She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping low. "But for what it's worth, it's kind of sexy seeing this serious side of you."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the corner of my mouth from twitching.

"Come on." Marilyn gestured toward the hallway leading to the back of the café. "Let's get started before Ruby storms in here and gives us both a hard time."

As I followed Marilyn into the depths of the café, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning—of what, exactly, I wasn't sure. But the tension was already there, humming beneath the surface like a storm waiting to break.