6

Alexander didn’t move at first. He sat there frozen for a second…not because he didn’t know what to do, but because it was so unexpected.

Then he reacted…calmly but firmly. His hands went to her arms, not harsh, but certain. He pushed her back, holding her just far enough to break the contact.

“June,” he said, standing halfway. His voice wasn’t angry. It was sharp. Controlled. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his expression unreadable, the way only he could manage when everything inside him felt like a mess.

His eyes swept the café, his instincts kicking in. No one was watching. The attendant behind the counter had earbuds in, focused on something else.

Alexander sat back down slowly, but the air between them had changed. He no longer looked like a man sharing coffee with an old friend. His face was cool, professional, and distant now.

“That wasn’t okay,” he said, voice quiet but steady. “You shouldn’t have done that. It was wrong.”

June didn’t even blink. She just leaned back, unfazed. “I’m not asking you to leave your wife for me, Alexander…whoever she is.”

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t take the bait. “I’m married,” he said simply. “It’s real. It’s good. I love her. I wouldn’t trade her for anything.”

June gave a soft laugh, like none of it bothered her. “I didn’t come here to ruin your life. I just want to be part of it.”

He looked at her for a long second. His expression didn’t change, but everything in his eyes said otherwise.

“That’s not how this works,” he said. Then he stood, grabbed his phone from the table, and walked away…no hesitation, no second glance.

…

The elevator doors slid open, and Alexander Reed stepped out, loosening his tie with one hand. His footsteps slowed as he walked through the hallway of their condo, the weight of the day pressing down on his shoulders. He unlocked the front door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.

Warm light spilled from the kitchen. The scent of roasted chicken and garlic filled the air.

“Ava?” he called, setting his briefcase by the door and slipping out of his shoes.

“I’m in the kitchen!” her voice rang out, light and cheerful…too cheerful.

He walked in and saw her by the stove, plating the food with that usual focus she gave to everything. She wore one of his shirts over her dress, sleeves rolled up, and her hair tied in a messy bun. A candle glowed on the table, but she hadn’t gone overboard. It wasn’t a special occasion. Just dinner. Just them.

But her smile…it didn’t reach her eyes.

“There you are,” she said, flashing that perfect grin. “I was starting to think you’d gotten kidnapped by your board of directors.”

He chuckled softly, pushing away the image of June’s lips from his mind. “Just a long day,” he said, walking over and kissing her temple. “Sorry I’m late.”

Ava glanced up at him quickly, as if searching his face for something. “It’s okay. You’re here now.”

Alexander studied her. There was something off. She was smiling, but her eyes looked tired. Distant. He didn’t say anything about it.

“You alright?” he asked, his voice low.

“Mm-hmm,” she nodded too quickly. “I stayed back at school today. There’s this little boy…Liam. His mom didn’t come to pick him up, poor kid. He kept asking where she was and ended up sleeping on my lap.”

“Liam?” Alexander asked, a little confused.

“One of the kids in grade one,” she said with a soft smile. “He’s sweet. Just… it broke my heart. I stayed with him until his mom finally showed up. I think she forgot or something, I don’t know.”

Alexander watched her quietly. He knew how much she cared about her job. That was one of the first things that pulled him to her…how much she loved what she did. How real she was about it. Ava didn’t put on a show. She gave everything her whole heart.

“That’s because you always show up,” he said, pulling her close with one hand at her waist. “You always do things that matter.”

She paused, her breath catching slightly. Then she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

“So,” she asked as she sat down across from him, “how was your day?”

He froze…just for a second.

He could’ve told her about the meeting, the back-and-forth with clients, the system issues. But his mind still circled back to June. To the kiss. To her fingers on his jaw. Her bold words. Her telling him she came back for him. And how he'd pushed her away, but still couldn’t shake the taste of betrayal it left behind.

He couldn’t tell Ava.

She didn’t know June. She didn’t know that June was the daughter of his mother’s old friend. She didn’t know that June had shown up at his company that morning after being gone for five years, walked straight into his office like she belonged there…and kissed him like she had a right to.

There was no way he could say that.

He cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair.

“Work was… packed,” he said. “Had back-to-back meetings. Nothing exciting. Just the usual.”

Ava nodded, smiling. “You look tired.”

“Maybe,” he said, then stood and walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He pressed his lips gently to her neck. “You smell really good.”

Ava laughed softly, leaning her head against his. “Garlic chicken and hair spray. What a combo.”

He turned her gently and kissed her…slow and intentional. Nothing rushed.

“I love you, Ava,” he said, voice steady.

“I love you too,” she replied, holding onto him for a second longer before nudging him toward the table. “Now sit. Before the food gets cold.”

He obeyed with a small smile, pulling out the chair and sitting down. As she served him, he watched her…his heart full, but heavy.

He loved her. With everything in him. And that kiss with June?

It didn’t mean anything.

But the guilt?

It was already eating him alive.