Chapter 67
As I stepped inside, the café was alive with activity, the perfume of freshly ground coffee beans mixed with the subtle aroma of cooked pastries.
The line was long, but that was not unusual for this establishment.
It had always been one of those trendy hangouts where folks huddled over laptops or caught up with friends.
The sound of conversations mixed with the clinking of cups and the faint hiss of the espresso machine.
I surveyed the room, feeling strangely out of place, but then I saw him. Tyler.
He sat in a corner booth, dressed in his typical crisp black jacket and a white shirt with a slightly open collar, his stance both calm and tight.
As I went in, his dark eyes raised and locked on mine almost immediately.
There was that familiar spark of recognition, which always sent a rush of warmth through me, no matter how many times I saw him.
He motioned me over, his lips curving into a faint smile.
For a minute, I stood there, stuck in place, unsure if I was truly prepared for this. I'd been avoiding him for weeks, allowing the stillness to grow between us.
I persuaded myself leaving was for the best-there was nothing left between us, no reason to return. But suddenly, here I was, approaching him.
"Hey," I whispered gently as I slid into the booth across from him, my hands quickly curling around the warm cup he'd already ordered for me.
He didn't say anything at first, just looked at me calmly, his stare piercing but not critical.
"You okay?" he inquired after a long pause, his voice surprisingly kind.
I mustered a smile and nodded fast. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Tyler did not appear convinced, but he let it go, his lips quirking slightly. Tyler looked as cocky and self-assured as usual, yet there was something unusual about him today. He appeared more on edge, as if he was carefully selecting each word.
I took a drink of my coffee, letting the usual bitterness calm my anxieties, and waited for him to break the stillness.
After a few moments, he sighed deeply and sat erect. "Sam, I'm glad you came."
I raised an eyebrow and laid my coffee down on the table. "I didn't have much of a choice, did I?"
His lips trembled, but he did not answer. Instead, he leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowed with apparent intensity.
"I have something I need to talk to you about. "Something important."
I shifted in my seat, feeling uneasy. "What's this about, Tyler?"
He paused briefly before speaking again, this time with a deeper tone and a trace of irritation.
"There is an event coming soon. My grandfather is coming to town. "He is unaware of the situation with us." He hesitated, his jaw stiffening as he caught my gaze. "He does not know about the divorce. He had been in New Orleans, but is now heading to New York for this function.
I slumped back in my seat, taking his words in. "So, what does that have to do with me?"
Tyler appeared to gulp, his gaze flitting over the room before falling back on mine. "I need your help. You're the only person who can help me with this."
The words hung in the air, and my heart quickened. "Help you with what?" I inquired, my tone barely above a whisper.
"Pretend," he continued, his expression unflinching. "Pretend we are still married. Only for the event. I need you to help me keep up my appearance in front of my grandfather. I can't tell him that I broke things off. He's old school, Sam. If he discovers I've gone against his intentions, I'll face his fury for the rest of my life."
I blinked, pondering his words. "So, you want me to do what? Pretend to be your wife again for one day."
His eyes softened, and I could tell he was attempting to connect with the part of me that still cared.
"I understand it is a lot to ask, but please. You understand how important this is to me. I wouldn't ask if I had any other choices."
I swallowed hard, guilt already setting in. "And what if I hadn't come back from London?"
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, scratching the back of his neck. "Honestly? I do not know. I was frightened of having to explain something to my grandfather. But I'm delighted you are here now. I need you, Sam. "I really do."
The words sank into me like a weight. I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell him that after what had happened, he had no right to ask me for anything. After how he had treated me, and how he had let things between us to fall apart without explanation.
But then I noticed the sight in his eyes... how they softened when he talked of his grandfather, and how his voice faltered with uncertainty.
I exhaled, my thoughts whirling. "Tyler, you've injured me. You can't just ask me for favors after everything."
"I know," he swiftly said, leaning forward. "I am aware that I made a mistake, Sam. But I need your help right now. This is bigger than me. Please."
I could feel my wrath growing, and old wounds that had never fully healed began to burn anew.
He had the audacity to sit here and ask me for this. After everything.
I wanted to yell at him, tell him how selfish he was for throwing away the best thing in his life. But I did not. I could not.
"I'll do it," I responded, my voice lower than I intended.
Tyler seemed taken aback for a second. "What?"
"I said I'll help you," I said, my pulse pounding in my chest. "But this doesn't change anything. Do not believe for a second that it does.
His eyes sparked with hope, perhaps. But he did not say anything else.
We sat quietly for a minute, and I could feel the tension in the air, heavy and stifling. I wasn't sure if it was the correct decision.
I wasn't sure whether there was a right decision at this moment.
Tyler finally broke the silence, his voice calm yet determined. Thank you, Sam. You don't realize how much this means to me.
I nodded and forced a smile. "Please don't expect anything else from me. "This is strictly business."
He smiled, but the grief did not quite reach his eyes.
Tyler's phone buzzed as we were about to depart, and he glanced at the screen. His face clouded for a second before he pushed it into his pocket, his gaze catching mine.
"Something wrong?" I inquired, seeing a difference in his demeanor.
"No," he replied swiftly. "Nothing at all."
But the anxiety in his voice suggested otherwise.