Beginning Of Us

The café smelled like fresh espresso and warm pastries, the kind of scent that made a place feel like home. Lily Harper leaned against the counter, tapping her fingers as she studied the morning rush.

"Order up for Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Intense," Ally, her best friend and co-owner of the café, teased, sliding a coffee cup across the counter.

Lily smirked. "That’s half the customers here.

But her eyes followed the man anyway. He sat in the corner, flipping through a medical journal, completely oblivious to the chaos around him.

His sharp jawline, crisp shirt, and the air of quiet authority made him stand out. He was new. A stranger in a city where Lily thought she had seen every face.

She turned back to Ally, shaking her head. "You seriously have a radar for attractive men."

"It’s a gift," Ally said, nudging her. "And if you don’t go talk to him, I will."

Lily rolled her eyes, grabbing a fresh coffee pot and making her way over. As she reached his table, he didn’t look up.

"Refill?" she offered.

"Only if it comes with an introduction." His voice was deep and smooth, the kind that made you want to lean in.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "That’s bold for a first-time customer."

He finally looked up, piercing hazel eyes locking onto hers. "First time here, not my first time being bold."

She let out a soft laugh. "Lily Harper. Owner of this little piece of heaven. And you?"

"Ryle Kincaid." He extended his hand, and when she shook it, a spark ran up her arm.

"A doctor, I’m guessing?" She asked, nodding toward his journal.

"Neurosurgeon."

"Sounds exhausting."

"It has its moments." He leaned back, studying her. "You don’t look like the kind of person who settles."

Lily tilted her head. "That’s an interesting assumption."

"Most people pour coffee and walk away. You’re still here."

"Maybe I like watching people squirm under direct eye contact."

Ryle chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair enough. Since we’re making assumptions, let me guess. You started this place because you hated working under someone else."

"Partially true. But mostly, I just wanted to create something I could call my own."

"Something that lasts."

Lily hesitated. The weight of his words sat heavy on her chest.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "Something that lasts."

Before she could dwell on it, the bell above the door chimed.

The air shifted.

Lily’s breath caught.

She turned, and there he was.

Atlas Caldwell.

The boy she once loved. The boy she lost.

And he was staring right at her.

Lily froze.

Atlas Caldwell stood in the doorway of the café, his presence shifting everything in the room. He wasn’t just someone from her past. He was the past she never truly left behind.

His blue eyes locked onto hers. There was hesitation, a flicker of something unreadable, but then recognition.

"Lily," he said, his voice lower, rougher than she remembered.

She forced herself to breathe, to push down the memories rushing back too fast. "Atlas."

Ally leaned in, whispering. "Who’s the Greek god that just walked in, and why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?"

Lily ignored her.

Atlas took a slow step closer, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket like he wasn’t sure if he belonged here. "I didn’t know you were still in Boston."

"I could say the same," she said. "You disappeared."

A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Yeah. I did."

The weight of their history hung between them.

Before she could respond, Ryle’s voice cut through the moment. "Friend of yours?"

Lily turned, finding him watching Atlas with a look that was unreadable but not entirely welcoming.

Atlas’s eyes flickered to Ryle, assessing. "You must be someone important."

"Ryle Kincaid," Ryle said, standing as if to make his presence known.

"Atlas Caldwell," Atlas replied, his voice steady and calm.

Ally muttered, "This just got interesting."

Lily shot her a warning look before turning back to Atlas. "What are you doing here?"

His gaze softened slightly. "I just got back."

"After all these years?"

Atlas exhaled slowly. "It’s a long story."

Lily wasn’t sure she wanted to hear it.

Ryle stepped closer to her, his presence a quiet claim. "Lily, we were in the middle of something."

Atlas’s eyes flicked between them, something unreadable crossing his face. "I don’t want to interrupt."

"You already did," Ryle said smoothly.

Lily shot him a look. "Ryle."

Atlas gave a small nod. "I should go."

Something inside her protested.

"Wait," she said before she could stop herself.

Atlas paused.

Lily hesitated, then gestured toward an empty table. "Stay. Have coffee."

Ryle stiffened beside her.

Atlas studied her for a beat, then nodded. "Alright."

Ally shot her a look that said, This is going to be a disaster.

Lily wasn’t so sure she disagreed.

Lilly placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of Atlas. Her fingers trembled slightly, but she hid it well.

She wasn’t sure what was worse, the way her past had just walked in or the way her present was watching her like he could see every thought running through her head.

Ryle had taken a seat next to her, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp.

Atlas sat across from them, his hands wrapped around the coffee cup like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

The silence stretched.

Ally hovered nearby, pretending to wipe down the counter, but she was very much listening.

Ryle finally broke the tension. "So, how do you two know each other?"

Lily hesitated. Atlas didn’t.

"We grew up together," he said, his voice even.

Ryle nodded slowly. "Old friends, then?"

Lily swallowed. "Something like that."

Atlas’s gaze flickered to hers. He knew that wasn’t the full truth.

Ryle leaned back, watching Atlas closely. "What brings you back to Boston?"

Atlas exhaled. "Work. I opened a restaurant not far from here."

"A restaurant," Lily repeated, something warm flickering in her chest. "You always wanted that."

Atlas gave a small smile. "Yeah. Took longer than I planned, but I got there."

Ryle’s jaw tightened just a fraction. "Sounds like you two have a lot of history."

Atlas held his gaze. "We do."

Lily felt the tension building between them. She needed to shift the conversation before it became something more.

"How long have you been back?" she asked.

"A few weeks."

"You didn’t reach out," she said before she could stop herself.

Atlas studied her. "I wasn’t sure if I should."

Something unspoken passed between them. The memories. The promises. The years apart.

Ryle’s fingers tapped against the table. "Well, now you have."

Lily looked at him.

Atlas didn’t react. He just took a sip of his coffee. "This place is nice, Lily. It suits you."

"Thanks," she said, softer this time.

Ally, who had been holding in her curiosity for far too long, finally joined the conversation.

"So, Atlas, what kind of food does your restaurant serve?"

He looked at her, amused by her not-so-subtle attempt to lighten the mood. "A mix of things. Mostly Mediterranean-inspired."

"Fancy," she said, nudging Lily. "You should go check it out."

Lily opened her mouth to respond, but Ryle cut in first.

"Maybe some other time," he said smoothly, standing. "Lily and I have plans later."

Atlas nodded, but something about his expression shifted. "Of course."

Lily didn’t correct Ryle. She should have. But the weight of the moment was too much, and she needed time to figure out what it all meant.

Atlas stood too, sliding a few bills onto the table. "It was good seeing you, Lily."

She hesitated. "Yeah. You too."

Then he walked out the door, taking a piece of her past with him.

Lily locked the café’s door, flipping the sign to Closed. The day had been long, but her thoughts made it feel even longer.

Atlas was back.

She leaned against the counter, rubbing her temples.

"You’ve been quiet," Ally said, wiping down the espresso machine.

Lily sighed. "It’s a lot."

Ally raised an eyebrow. "Because Atlas showed up, or because Ryle didn’t like it?"

Lily didn’t answer. She didn’t have to.

Ally shook her head. "Look, I don’t know the full story, but I know this, when you saw Atlas, you looked like you couldn’t breathe. That means something."

Lily exhaled, pushing the thought aside. "I need to go home."

Ally didn’t press. "See you tomorrow."

Lily grabbed her bag and stepped outside. The Boston air was crisp, the streets quiet.

She barely made it to her car when a voice stopped her.

"Lily."

She turned. Ryle leaned against her car, arms crossed.

"Hey," she said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

He studied her, his expression unreadable. "Wanted to talk."

"About?"

Ryle pushed off the car, stepping closer. "Atlas."

Lily tensed. "What about him?"

Ryle tilted his head. "You tell me."

She frowned. "Ryle, it was just a surprise. I haven’t seen him in years."

"You looked like it was more than that."

Lily crossed her arms. "What are you trying to say?"

Ryle’s jaw tightened. "I don’t like the way he looked at you."

She let out a short laugh. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious."

"Ryle, this is ridiculous. He’s an old friend."

"Is that all?"

Lily hesitated. That slight pause made Ryle’s eyes darken.