Chapter 6

Drew’s grip on the note tightened, his expression hardening as he shoved it back into my hands. There was no mistaking the way he practically threw it at me, like it was something dirty. He didn’t say a word as he turned on his heel and walked away, his broad shoulders stiff with irritation. My heart pounded in my chest, confusion swirling in my mind like a storm.

What had just happened? What was all that about?

I stared at his retreating figure, watching him disappear into the corridor, my fingers trembling around the note. His reaction didn’t make sense, not after the tension we’d shared earlier. Was it because of the flowers? Was he jealous?

I shook my head, trying to clear the thought before it could take root. It was ridiculous. Drew Sinclair didn’t get jealous. He barely even seemed capable of feeling anything, much less something as messy as jealousy. But something about the way he’d looked at me… something had changed.

I forced myself to focus. It wasn’t Drew I needed to be concerned about right now. It was the note in my hands. Slowly, I tore open the envelope, my curiosity burning through the confusion.

The words written inside were neat, almost too neat, like they’d been written carefully with purpose:

Hey Lila,

It was great reconnecting yesterday. I realized I forgot to ask for your number when we parted ways, so here's mine. Call me when you get a chance, I’d love to catch up more over coffee or dinner. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Max.

I blinked at the note, a smile tugging at my lips. There was something warm and reassuring about the way he’d written it, as though he truly cared about reconnecting. Flowers, a thoughtful note, and an invitation to catch up everything about it made me feel seen, something I hadn’t felt in so long.

I couldn’t help the flutter in my chest. The connection with Max, it felt real, like something I could hold on to. It was a refreshing contrast to the cold distance Drew had built between us.

Without thinking, I grabbed my phone from my bag and dialed Max’s number. The phone rang a few times before he picked up.

“Max,”

“Lila? Hey,” he answered, his voice smooth and easy, as if we were still those old friends picking up right where we left off.

“Hi,” I replied, the sound of his voice sending a wave of relief over me. “I, uh… I got your flowers.”

“Good, I was hoping they’d brighten your day,” he said with a chuckle. “I meant what I wrote, by the way. How about we meet up tonight? I’d love to catch up on all that’s happened since we last saw each other.”

I felt my pulse quicken at the thought of seeing him again. The idea of spending time with someone who didn’t come with the baggage Drew carried, someone who seemed genuine, was a welcome escape.

“That sounds nice,” I said, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “I’d like that.”

“Great. I’ll text you some details later,” Max said, his tone warm. “Take care, Lila.”

“You too, Max.”

I ended the call, staring at my phone for a long moment. The butterflies in my stomach refused to settle, and for the first time in days, I felt like there might be something or someone else to look forward to.

I tried to get back to work, but somehow my mind kept flickering between Drew and Max. I walked back into Drew's office, trying to focus on my tasks, but every now and then, I caught Drew’s cold stare from the corner of my eye. It was passive-aggressive; his small, pointed glances, the way he seemed to be watching my every move, like he was waiting for me to slip up. Or maybe it was something else. I couldn’t tell.

I quickly realized that whatever Drew’s issue was, it wasn’t just work. It was personal. And it made my skin crawl.

By the time I was done with my tasks, it was nearly time to leave. I quickly gathered my things, eager to put the day behind me, but Drew's presence was like an invisible weight in the room.

“Leaving so soon?” he asked, his voice smooth, but with an underlying sharpness that made my stomach tighten.

“Yeah, I have plans,” I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.

He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything more. I could feel his eyes on my back as I walked out of the office, the tension between us thick enough to cut through.

I quickly left the building, the cool air hitting my face as I made my way to my car. My phone buzzed, and I smiled when I saw Max’s name flashing across the screen.

Meet me at The Olive Grove at 7?

I texted him back my confirmation, then got in my car and drove home to get ready.

When I finally arrived at The Olive Grove, Max was already seated at a table near the window. He looked up as I approached, a warm smile spreading across his face as he stood to greet me. His easy demeanor put me at ease, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could just breathe.

“Hey there,” he said, pulling out my chair for me. “Glad you could make it.”

“Of course,” I replied, sitting down. “I’ve been meaning to do this for a while.”

Max sat down across from me, his eyes glinting with mischief. “So, just to be clear,” he said, leaning in slightly, “this is a date, right?”

I blinked, taken aback by his bluntness. “A date?” I repeated, trying to keep my voice even. “Max, this is just two friends catching up. No need to make it complicated.”

His lips curled into a playful smile. “Sure, sure. But I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t a date, then why do I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time?”

I could feel my cheeks flush slightly, but I didn’t let him see how much his words affected me. “You’re reading too much into it,” I said, shaking my head, trying to keep things light. “It’s just dinner with an old friend.”

Max’s gaze softened, and he leaned back in his chair. “Alright, alright. I’ll let you off the hook for now.”

But even as he said it, I could see the challenge in his eyes. The way he was looking at me he wasn’t backing down, and neither was I.

The conversation flowed easily after that, the chemistry undeniable, and for a moment, I forgot about the weight of everything back at the hotel. But when the check came, something in the air shifted, and I suddenly felt unsure. What was I really doing here? Why was it so easy to slip into this, to forget about everything else?

As we stood to leave, Max’s hand brushed against mine, a touch that sent a jolt through me. He smiled, his eyes dark with intent. “I’ll walk you to your car,” he said, his voice low.

“Thanks,” I replied, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in my chest. But before I could react, I turned to find Drew standing by the entrance, suddenly my chest felt too tight and there was just this pain that I couldn't understand.

The pain wasn't just coming from the fact that Drew was here, I mean I see him everyday at work so I'm used to that feeling. This was more intense and it was because of the company he had with him tonight.

He was standing at the entrance, his arm casually wrapped around the waist of a beautiful woman. She was tall, confident, and effortlessly stunning everything I wasn’t and for some weird reasons her presence hit me like a punch to the gut.

Drew didn’t acknowledge me. Not a word, not even a glance. His arm stayed firmly around the woman’s waist as he strode past me, not bothering to stop or offer any sort of explanation.

I stood there, frozen, the weight of his indifference crushing me in a way I hadn’t expected. He didn’t care. The thought swirled in my mind, and for a moment, I felt utterly insignificant.

Just the Max’s voice pulled me back to reality.

“Lila? You okay?”