Chapter 21: A Familiar Voice

POV: Theo Sinclair

The rain had finally stopped by mid-morning, leaving behind a damp chill that clung to the streets outside Chapters & Brews. Inside, the café buzzed with its usual rhythm: the hiss of the espresso machine, the murmur of conversations, and the occasional clink of a spoon against a ceramic mug.

I leaned against the counter, half-listening as Mia rattled off updates about inventory and upcoming orders.

“You’re not even paying attention, are you?” she said, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

“Of course I am,” I lied, though I didn’t bother hiding my smirk.

Mia raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Fine. Be distracted. Just don’t complain when I call in reinforcements.”

“Reinforcements?”

“Ryan,” she said, smirking.

I groaned. “Don’t you dare.”

But the look in her eyes told me she already had.

Ryan arrived less than an hour later, sweeping into the café like a force of nature. His dark blond hair was slightly disheveled, his leather jacket slung over one shoulder. He had a presence that turned heads—something I’d always admired, even if I’d never admit it.

“Well, well,” he said, his voice carrying just enough sarcasm to make me roll my eyes. “If it isn’t my favorite brooding bookshop owner.”

“Ryan,” I said flatly.

“You don’t sound happy to see me,” he said, grinning as he dropped into a chair across from me.

“Mia called you, didn’t she?”

“She’s my wife,” Ryan said, shrugging. “And she’s worried about you, so here I am.”

I sighed, my shoulders sagging. “You didn’t have to come all the way from New York for this.”

Ryan leaned back, crossing his arms. “I’d say you’re worth it, but I really just wanted an excuse to escape the city.”

“You’re impossible.”

“And you’re predictable,” Ryan shot back. “Now, spill. What’s going on?”

Despite my reluctance, Ryan had a way of breaking through my defenses. Before long, I found myself telling him everything: the text from Alex, Vanessa’s arrival in town, the gnawing unease I hadn’t been able to shake since.

“Vanessa’s here?” Ryan said, his tone sharp.

“According to Alex,” I said, running a hand through my hair.

Ryan frowned, his expression darkening. “And Alex? Is he here too?”

“I don’t think so,” I said. “But with him, who knows?”

Ryan let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Man, you’ve got a storm brewing.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I muttered.

Ryan tapped his fingers on the table, his sharp eyes scanning me like he was trying to piece together a puzzle.

“Let’s back up,” he said. “You’ve got Vanessa—the ex-fiancée who broke your heart—wandering into your new life. Then there’s Alex, your charming older brother, who’s likely still wracked with guilt for screwing you over. And you? You’re just sitting here letting it eat at you.”

I leaned back in my chair, the weight of his words settling in my chest. “What do you want me to do, Ryan? Pretend like it doesn’t bother me?”

“No,” Ryan said, his voice softer now. “I want you to stop letting it control you.”

I clenched my jaw, the memory of Alex’s face flashing through my mind—not the smugness I’d imagined, but the guilt, the shame that had been etched in his expression that day.

“I miss him,” I admitted quietly. “Even after everything, I miss my brother.”

Ryan leaned forward, his voice steady. “Of course you do. He’s your family, Theo. That doesn’t just go away because he screwed up.”

“It wasn’t just a screw-up,” I said, my voice tight. “He knew what he was doing. He knew what Vanessa meant to me.”

Ryan nodded slowly, giving me space to vent.

“But at the same time,” I continued, “I hate that I feel like this. Like I’m stuck in this loop of anger and… and missing what we used to have.”

“That’s because you’re human,” Ryan said, his tone calm but firm. “You can be angry and still miss him. You can love your brother and hate what he did. Those feelings don’t cancel each other out.”

I stared at him, his words hitting harder than I expected.

“And Vanessa?” Ryan asked, his tone shifting. “What’s the plan there?”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Avoid her until she leaves town.”

“Not a bad strategy,” Ryan said, smirking. “But seriously, Theo, if you run into her, don’t let her twist things. Don’t let her make you question your choices.”

“I won’t,” I said, though even I didn’t sound convinced.

Ryan’s gaze softened. “You’ve built something here—something good. Don’t let her or Alex take that away from you.”

I nodded, the knot in my chest loosening just a fraction.

“And speaking of good things,” Ryan added, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Let’s talk about Evelyn.”

I groaned. “Do we have to?”

“Yes,” Ryan said, leaning back in his chair. “Mia says you’re spending all your time with her. That you’re smiling more.”

“I smile plenty,” I muttered.

“Sure,” Ryan said, his grin widening. “Look, man. All I’m saying is, don’t mess this up. If Evelyn’s the reason you’re starting to pull yourself out of this hole, then maybe it’s time you stopped running and let someone in.”

Ryan’s words stayed with me as I made my way to the library later that day. The streets were quiet, the air crisp and clean after the rain.

Evelyn was at her usual spot behind the desk when I walked in, her curls glowing in the afternoon light. She looked up as the door chime sounded, her expression softening when she saw me.

“You’re back,” she said, smiling.

“Miss me?” I asked, my voice lighter than it had been all day.

“Always,” she said, her tone teasing but warm.

We spent the next few hours working together on the final details for the event. Evelyn’s focus was unwavering, her hands moving efficiently as she sorted through the scavenger hunt materials.

But even as we worked, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ryan’s words—or the way Evelyn’s presence seemed to steady me in a way I hadn’t thought possible.

“You’re quiet today,” Evelyn said eventually, glancing at me.

“Just a lot on my mind,” I said, my voice careful.

Evelyn frowned, her green and blue eyes narrowing. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

“I know,” I said quietly.

For a moment, the air between us felt heavy, charged with unspoken words. Then Evelyn smiled, her expression softening. “Well, when you’re ready, I’ll be here.”

As I left the library that evening, the weight on my chest felt a little lighter.

Ryan was right—I couldn’t let Vanessa and Alex dictate my life anymore.

And Evelyn… she was becoming something I didn’t fully understand yet. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had something worth holding on to.