Chapter 3: A New Connection

The sound of the bell above the door jingled again, signaling another customer entering the bookstore. Emily glanced up from the register, a smile tugging at her lips as she prepared for another busy afternoon. The morning had been steady, and as the afternoon sun poured through the windows, the town of Sunridge Bay seemed to come alive with a gentle energy. The café was a little busier now, with locals sipping coffee and chatting over the morning's newspaper. The bookshelves were slowly beginning to fill with curious readers who had wandered in for something new.

As she wiped down the counter, a voice she hadn't heard in a while echoed from the door.

"Hey, Em. Thought I'd come check out your grand opening."

She looked up and froze.

Matt.

For a moment, everything seemed to slow down. The noise of the café faded away, and she could only hear the pounding of her own heart in her ears. The sight of him—standing there, framed by the doorway like some ghost from her past—was jarring, a painful reminder of everything she had tried to leave behind.

"Matt," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She hadn't expected him to show up, especially not here, not in Sunridge Bay. But of course, he would. He was always able to find a way back into her life, no matter how far she tried to run.

He gave her a lopsided grin, a mix of embarrassment and charm, as if nothing had changed. As if it hadn't been two months since he'd walked out of their apartment, telling her he no longer loved her.

"I thought I'd come by, see how the place turned out," he said, stepping inside and glancing around the bookstore with a look of mild interest. "You've really made it cozy in here."

Emily stiffened, forcing herself to smile, but the warmth in it was thin, fragile. "It's still a work in progress. But thanks for stopping by."

There was a long silence between them. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know if she was even ready to have this conversation, especially not with him standing there, looking like he hadn't caused her heartache in the first place.

"I've been meaning to reach out," he continued, not quite meeting her eyes. "I know things ended... not great, but I—"

"Matt," she interrupted, her voice sharper than she intended. She felt the burn of old memories rising up, threatening to suffocate her. "It's fine. Really. I don't need an explanation."

His eyes flickered with something—regret? Guilt? She couldn't tell. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for how I ended things. I didn't handle it well. And I understand if you're mad at me."

The truth was, Emily didn't know what she felt anymore. Anger, yes. But also sadness. And confusion. He had been the person she thought she was going to build her future with. And now, here he was, standing in front of her, as if time had stood still. As if nothing had ever happened.

"I'm not mad at you," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm just… moving forward." The words felt like a lie, but they were the only words that made sense. Because she was moving forward. Whether she was ready or not.

Matt seemed to sense the finality in her tone, but his face softened. "I didn't expect things to be easy, but I wanted to make sure you were okay. I don't want to just disappear from your life entirely."

Emily swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "We're fine, Matt. I'm fine. Really."

There was a long pause, and she saw the conflict in his eyes—the hesitation that was becoming all too familiar. It was the same hesitation he'd shown before he'd walked away from their relationship.

Finally, he sighed, looking around the bookstore again. "I see you're doing well here. I'm glad. I always knew you had it in you."

Emily gave a small, strained smile. "Thanks. But really, it's all about moving forward. This is my new chapter."

Matt nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line. "I'll let you get back to work then." He hesitated, then added, "Maybe we can talk again soon? Catch up sometime?"

Emily couldn't hide the flicker of doubt that crossed her face. Her heart wasn't ready for this. "I don't think that's a good idea," she said quietly, surprising herself with how firm her voice sounded. "I think it's time for both of us to move on."

Matt seemed to understand, because he didn't argue. Instead, he gave a sad smile and nodded. "Alright. Take care, Emily."

And just like that, he was gone—slipping back out the door, leaving only the faintest echo of his presence behind.

Emily stood there for a moment, her pulse still racing, her thoughts swirling. The familiar ache of seeing him again lingered in her chest, but she knew she had made the right decision. She didn't need closure from Matt. She didn't need any more of his apologies or regrets. She needed to heal. She needed time to rediscover who she was without him.

The bell above the door jingled once more, and she looked up, finding herself face-to-face with Jake. He paused in the doorway, his gaze immediately landing on Emily. His brow furrowed as he took in her pale face and the strained look in her eyes.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice surprisingly gentle.

Emily's throat tightened, and she forced herself to swallow the emotion threatening to overtake her. "Yeah," she said, her voice hoarse. "I'm fine. Just… unexpected visit."

Jake didn't push, though he didn't look entirely convinced. He took a step inside, glancing at the empty table by the window where he had sat earlier that morning. "I'll take my coffee to go today," he said, his tone soft. "I don't want to interrupt anything."

Emily nodded, feeling a small wave of gratitude wash over her. For the first time in the past few minutes, she felt a sense of calm settling in. Jake's presence, though quiet, was grounding—exactly what she needed in this moment.

She quickly made his drink, handing it to him with a small smile. "Here you go."

"Thanks," he said, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."

She blinked, surprised by the sincerity in his words. For a moment, their gazes held, and Emily could feel the weight of unspoken words between them. It was as if Jake understood something about her without needing to ask.

"Thank you," she said, her voice softer now, almost a whisper. She wasn't sure why, but she felt like she could trust him.

Jake gave a nod and turned to leave, but before he stepped out the door, he paused.

"Take care of yourself, Emily."

And then he was gone.