Fragile

Chapter 9 - Run In

I hesitated, biting the inside of my cheek. I could feel my pulse quicken just thinking about Leah—the way she'd looked at me in the car a few nights ago, the way her fingers had twitched before trying to grab my hand, the way she'd let me tease her, but never pulled away. But I wasn't ready to say her name. Not because I was embarrassed—no, never—but because Leah was herself. Known. And I wasn't sure I wanted my coworkers to know.

So instead, I leaned forward slightly, lowering my voice. "It's just someone from... my past. We've been reconnecting."

Michelle's eyes widened, and she grabbed my arm. "Oh my God. An ex?"

I shook my head quickly. "No. Not— Not like that. We were never together."

Eric tilted his head. "But you wanted to be?"

I hesitated, my lips pressing together before I muttered, "I don't know."

Which was a lie.

Because I did know.

Michelle gasped. "Oh my God, it's totally one of those right person, wrong time things."

Eric nodded, intrigued. "So what happened?"

I sighed, rubbing the condensation from my glass. "I ended things before they could really be anything."

Michelle groaned dramatically. "You mean you self-sabotaged?"

I glared. "I mean I had a lot going on, and I didn't think it was fair to drag someone into my life when I couldn't promise them anything."

Eric hummed, tapping his chin. "But now?"

I exhaled slowly. "Now we're... talking again."

Michelle narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Just talking?"

I fought back a smirk, but I knew they saw the way I ducked my head slightly.

Eric grinned. "You totally like her."

I groaned, covering my face. "I hate you both."

Michelle laughed, nudging me. "So what's she like? Give us something."

I hesitated again, but then an image of Leah flashed in my mind—her easy smirk, her stupid awkwardness, the way she was so good with Riggs without even trying.

So I shrugged and said, "She's just... Leah."

Michelle gasped dramatically. "That means something!"

Eric smirked, raising his glass. "To Evelyn's mysterious Leah."

I rolled my eyes, clinking my glass against his. "You two are the worst."

But deep down, I knew I wasn't lying.

Because she was just Leah.

I was mid-sip of my drink when the energy in the bar shifted. The door swung open, and a large group of people walked in—loud, laughing, already carrying that air of confidence that said they owned the room.

I barely glanced up at first, too caught in whatever ridiculous thing Michelle was saying. But then—

I felt it.

That pull.

That strange, undeniable awareness of her.

And sure enough, when my eyes flickered toward the entrance, there she was.

Leah.

She was standing slightly behind the group, her hands in the pockets of her black jacket, her head tilted slightly as she listened to someone beside her. Her smile was easy, relaxed—carefree in a way I hadn't seen in a long time.