Melody Between Us

The morning dawned cold and crisp, but Mia hardly noticed. She was already at the café, organizing tables with a distracted air. Her mind replayed the events of the previous night, Lukas's words echoing louder than David's pleas.

"Your worth isn't tied to anyone's approval or apology."

Greta arrived moments later, her usual cheerful demeanor intact. She shot Mia a knowing glance. "Rough night?"

Mia sighed. "You could say that."

"Let me guess—Mr. Intense Eyes got under your skin?" Greta teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

Mia rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "It's not like that."

"Right," Greta said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And I don't love pastries."

Before Mia could respond, the café door chimed, and in walked Lukas. His presence seemed to suck the air out of the room, and Mia froze, her heart betraying her with a stuttered beat.

He approached the counter, his expression guarded. "Morning."

"Morning," Mia replied, forcing a neutral tone.

Greta, sensing the tension, made a quick exit to the back room, leaving them alone.

"I wanted to check on you," Lukas said, his voice low. "After last night..."

"I'm fine," Mia interjected quickly, avoiding his gaze. "You didn't have to come."

"I wanted to," Lukas said firmly, his tone softening. "I said we should talk when you were done here. I meant it."

Mia hesitated, torn between her emotions. "Lukas, I don't even know where to start."

"Then don't," he said. "Just listen."

---

Lukas took a deep breath, his usual confidence faltering. "I've spent my life building walls, Mia. It's easier that way—less messy, less painful. But with you... I can't seem to keep them up."

Mia blinked, stunned by his honesty. "Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because I don't want to look back and regret not saying it," Lukas admitted. "You don't owe me anything, Mia. I just needed you to know."

The silence between them was heavy, laden with unspoken emotions. Before Mia could respond, the door chimed again, and David walked in, his eyes immediately locking onto hers.

Lukas's jaw tightened as he turned to face him. "You've got terrible timing."

David ignored him, focusing solely on Mia. "We need to talk."

"I don't think now's the best time," Mia said, glancing nervously between the two men.

"It can't wait," David insisted, his voice firm.

Lukas stepped closer to Mia, his presence protective. "She said it's not the time. You should respect that."

David's gaze flicked to Lukas, his posture stiffening. "And who are you to decide that?"

"I'm someone who actually listens when she says no," Lukas shot back.

"Stop it—both of you," Mia said sharply, her voice cutting through the tension. She turned to David. "If you want to talk, fine. But not here, and not now."

David hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "I'll wait outside."

As he walked out, Mia turned back to Lukas, her shoulders slumping. "This is a mess."

"It doesn't have to be," Lukas said softly. "You don't owe him anything, Mia. Not your time, not your forgiveness."

Mia looked at him, her heart aching with the weight of his words. "And what about you, Lukas? What do I owe you?"

"Nothing," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm here anyway."

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur, with Mia barely able to focus on her work. By the time the café closed, she found David waiting outside, just as he'd promised.

They walked in silence to the nearby park, the cool evening air doing little to soothe Mia's frayed nerves.

"I'm sorry for last night," David began, breaking the silence. "I didn't mean to overwhelm you."

"You always do," Mia said, her voice tired. "Why are you really here, David? What do you want from me?"

"I want to fix things," he said, his tone earnest. "Leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life, Mia. I've regretted it every day since."

Mia shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "You can't just walk back into my life and expect me to forget everything you put me through. It's not that simple."

"I know," David said, his voice breaking. "But I had to try."

Mia turned away, her emotions a tangled mess. "You're too late, David. I've moved on—or at least, I'm trying to."

"Is it him?" David asked, his voice tinged with jealousy. "The guy from the café?"

"That's none of your business," Mia snapped, her patience wearing thin. "This isn't about him—it's about me. And I'm done letting you dictate how I feel."

David stared at her, his expression a mix of pain and acceptance. "I understand. I won't bother you again."

As he walked away, Mia felt a strange sense of relief. For the first time, she felt in control of her own story.

But as she turned to head home, her thoughts drifted to Lukas. He had seen her at her most vulnerable, yet he stayed.

Could she take a chance on someone who had already shown her what it meant to be cared for without conditions?

The question lingered as she stepped into the quiet of her apartment, her heart torn but hopeful.