Chapter 13

Sophia sat in the quiet corner of the café, her fingers wrapped tightly around her cup of coffee. The familiar scent did nothing to calm her nerves. She wasn't sure if it was the thought of seeing Ryan again or the way Alexander's words still echoed in her mind.

"You don't have to go through this alone."

It had been so long since someone had stood beside her without expectation, without ulterior motives. And yet, here she was, preparing to face the one man who had shattered every illusion of trust she'd once had.

The door chimed.

Her grip tightened around the cup as Ryan stepped inside.

It had been years, but he hadn't changed much—same cocky confidence, same easy charm that had once drawn her in. But now, all she could see were the cracks beneath the surface.

"Sophia." He smiled, sliding into the seat across from her.

"Ryan." Her voice was steady, controlled.

He let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "You look good. Different, but good."

She didn't respond. She wasn't here for pleasantries.

Ryan sighed, rubbing his hands together before meeting her gaze. "Look, I know I don't deserve this conversation. I messed up. I left when I shouldn't have, and I let you handle everything on your own. But I want to fix that."

Sophia arched a brow. "And what does 'fixing that' mean to you, Ryan?"

"I want to be in Leo's life."

A sharp, bitter laugh escaped her before she could stop it. "Now you want to be in his life? Where was this sudden devotion when he was crying himself to sleep, asking why his father didn't love him enough to stay?"

He winced. "I was young, Sophia. I was scared. But I've changed."

"People don't just change overnight," she shot back.

His jaw tightened, but he nodded. "I get it. You don't trust me. I probably wouldn't trust me either. But I mean it, Sophia. I want a chance to make this right."

She exhaled, forcing herself to stay calm. "Leo is my priority. His happiness, his stability. If you think you can just walk back in and play dad when it's convenient for you, think again."

Ryan leaned forward, sincerity flickering in his gaze. "I don't expect this to be easy. I don't expect you to believe me right away. But I'm not going anywhere this time."

Silence stretched between them.

Sophia wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that people could change, that he wouldn't hurt Leo the way he had hurt her.

But trust wasn't given—it was earned.

"I need time to think about this," she finally said.

Ryan nodded, relief washing over his face. "That's all I'm asking for."

She stood up. "I'll let you know when I'm ready for the next conversation. Until then, don't call Leo. Don't show up unannounced. If you mean what you say, you'll give me the space I need to decide."

He hesitated before nodding. "I will."

As Sophia walked out of the café, the weight of the conversation settled deep in her chest.

She had faced the past.

But it was the future that scared her the most.

And when she climbed into her car, her fingers hovered over her phone.

Before she could stop herself, she sent a single message.

Sophia: Are you free?

A response came almost instantly.

Alexander: For you? Always.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Maybe she didn't have to face the future alone after all.

Sophia didn't know why she had texted Alexander. Maybe it was the weight of the past pressing down on her, or maybe it was the way she had started craving his presence without meaning to.

Either way, she wasn't surprised when, twenty minutes later, there was a knock at her door.

She hesitated for only a second before opening it.

Alexander stood there, dressed in a navy button-up with the sleeves rolled up, his dark eyes scanning her face the moment he stepped inside. "What happened?"

Sophia let out a breath. "I met with Ryan."

His expression hardened, but he didn't interrupt.

She walked into the living room, needing space to think, to breathe. "He says he wants to be in Leo's life."

Alexander didn't say anything for a moment. Then, carefully, "And do you believe him?"

Sophia let out a bitter laugh. "I don't know. Part of me wants to. But the other part—the part that remembers everything he put us through—wants to tell him to go to hell."

Alexander stepped closer, his presence steady, grounding. "You don't owe him anything, Sophia. If he truly wants to prove himself, he has to do it on your terms. Not his."

She met his gaze, something warm and terrifying tightening in her chest. "You always say the right things."

His lips quirked. "I don't always. But when it comes to you, I try."

Her breath caught.

This man.

She had spent years building walls, protecting herself, ensuring no one could get too close. But Alexander wasn't just close—he was inside. Slowly, without force, he had carved out a space for himself in her life, in her heart.

She swallowed. "Leo asked if you'd come to his next game."

Alexander's eyes softened. "I'd love to."

She smiled, a real, genuine smile. "Good. Because I think he's already decided he likes you more than I do."

Alexander chuckled. "That's impossible." His voice dropped, his gaze holding hers. "Because I don't think you realize just how much you like me, Sophia."

Her stomach flipped.

She opened her mouth—maybe to argue, maybe to agree—but before she could say anything, his fingers brushed against hers. A simple touch. A question, not a demand.

And for once, she didn't pull away.

Maybe she was done running.

Maybe, for the first time in years, she was ready to let someone stay