Chapter 41
Stella pov
The air outside was crisp, the streetlights casting a soft glow over the quiet pavement as we walked side by side, the sound of our footsteps the only noise between us. I had already led him out of the café, taking a moment to make sure I wasn’t going to let him escape the conversation just yet. I had made a point of not being the type to linger in places I wasn’t wanted, but I was enjoying this weird, electric energy between us. It was like we were both testing the waters, seeing who could make the first move—or at least, that’s what I liked to think.
I glanced over at Ian, who was holding the black coffee I had ordered for him, his expression twisted into a slight grimace as he took another reluctant sip.
“You know,” I began, eyeing him with a playful smirk, “I’m not really a fan of people who don’t drink coffee the right way.”
“Black coffee is the right way?” He raised an eyebrow at me, the playful edge in his voice not quite hiding his genuine distaste for the drink.
“Oh, absolutely,” I said, my tone unwavering. “It’s a test of character, really. Anyone who can't handle a cup of black coffee... well, they’re probably not the kind of person you’d want around.”
“I think I’d prefer my character to remain untested, thank you.” Ian took another sip, clearly not convinced by my philosophy. “This stuff’s horrible.”
“Eh, you’ll survive,” I said, shrugging as I turned my attention back to the dark streets before us. “Think of it as a rite of passage.”
“Rite of passage?” Ian scoffed, “Is that what you call torturing people with terrible coffee?”
I grinned. “It builds character. Besides, it’s not like it’s that bad.”
“You’re insane,” he muttered under his breath, but his lips twitched into a smile, despite himself.
We continued walking, the pace slow and unhurried. The night air nipped at our skin, but the tension between us, the weird chemistry that sparked every time we exchanged a look, kept me warm. The city felt alive tonight, vibrant and full of stories, and for once, I wasn’t concerned about my own story. I was more interested in seeing how Ian’s unfolded.
“So, tell me something about you,” Ian said, breaking the silence. “Why are you in this café at midnight, tormenting people with your ‘rite of passage’ coffee orders?”
I tilted my head, glancing sideways at him, considering the question for a moment. “Well,” I began, my voice lighter than I intended, “I guess it’s because I needed a distraction.”
“A distraction from what?” He turned his head to look at me, his curiosity now piqued.
I hesitated for a moment, and for a fleeting second, I considered making up some random excuse. But the way he was looking at me—like he genuinely wanted to know—made me rethink. I wasn’t exactly in the mood to lie, anyway. So, I took a deep breath, and I gave him the truth.
“I just got out of a relationship,” I said, my voice quieter now, more serious. “My boyfriend... well, he was cheating on me.”
I glanced over at him to see his reaction. His face softened, the mockery fading from his expression as he processed my words. For a moment, he was silent, his gaze steady as he kept walking beside me.
“That sucks,” he said simply, and there was no mistaking the sincerity in his voice.
I shrugged, trying to play it off like it was nothing, but I could feel the weight of the words hanging in the air. “Yeah, well, I guess it’s what happens when you give someone all your trust and they end up throwing it away.” I made a face, almost as if I was trying to make light of the situation, but there was an edge to my tone. “Who knew he’d end up with someone else? I thought I was the only one he wanted.”
“You were the only one he should’ve wanted,” Ian said, the words firm but compassionate. “You deserve better than that.”
I met his gaze again, surprised by how easily he slipped into that protective role. I wasn’t used to people offering sympathy without some ulterior motive. “That’s what I keep telling myself,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. “But it’s hard, you know? When you spend so much time with someone, thinking you know them, and then you find out you never really did.”
Ian’s jaw tightened for a second before he spoke again. “It’s a hard pill to swallow. But you’re better off without him.”
I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I let his words settle in, turning them over in my mind like they were a strange comfort. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was better off without Vance. I just didn’t know it yet.
We walked in silence for a few more moments, the sound of our footsteps against the pavement filling the air between us. The city around us seemed to fade away, and it was just me and Ian, walking side by side in the cool night.
“So,” Ian said after a long pause, his voice breaking the comfortable silence. “What’s next for you, Stella? You going to keep torturing people with your black coffee orders?”
I snorted at his attempt to lighten the mood, shaking my head. “Maybe. But I think I need to figure out how to take a break from that whole ‘emotional baggage’ thing first.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s a process,” Ian said, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. “And if you need help... well, I’m good at offering distractions.”
I glanced over at him, considering. “Distractions, huh? What kind of distractions are we talking about here?”
“Oh, you know, the kind that doesn’t involve bad coffee or terrible ex-boyfriends.” He smirked, clearly enjoying himself.
“Sounds like something I might be interested in,” I said, unable to suppress my grin. “I could use a good distraction right now.”
Ian laughed, but there was something genuine about it, like he wasn’t just trying to be charming. He was, in some strange way, offering me a chance to forget about the mess of my life, if only for a little while.