Chapter ten

Lila’s POV

The small café near the park smelled like fresh espresso and warm vanilla pastries. Sunlight filtered through the large front windows, casting golden patches across the wooden tables and polished floors. I arrived early, choosing a quiet corner booth tucked away from the main walkway. The leather seat creaked softly as I slid in, and I set my bag beside me before wrapping my hands around the warm latte the waitress had brought. The spoon clinked gently against the ceramic mug as I stirred in sugar, watching the foam swirl slowly. 

My mind kept drifting back to last night. Marcus. Evelyn’s husband. The way his hands had gripped my hips in that private suite, the deep, commanding way he had moved inside me, filling me completely. Even now, hours later, I could feel a faint ache between my thighs with every small shift. My body remembered him even as my brain screamed that this was dangerous territory. I took a slow sip of the hot drink, letting the bitterness ground me. The café buzzed with soft conversations around me—friends catching up, a couple sharing a pastry, the occasional clatter of dishes from the counter. I tried to focus on the normalcy of it all, but the secret pressed heavy on my chest.

The door chimed. Claire stepped inside, scanning the room until her eyes found mine. She looked worn out, with faint shadows under her eyes that her makeup only partially concealed. Her shoulders carried a slight tension as she walked over, offering me a small, tired smile before sliding into the booth across from me.

     “Hey, little sis,” she said, her voice warm but carrying an undercurrent of exhaustion. 

She placed her bag on the seat beside her and raised a hand to flag down the waiter.

    “Sorry I’m a few minutes late. Traffic was annoying. How are you?”

I studied her for a moment—the way her fingers drummed lightly on the table, the subtle tightness at the corners of her mouth. Claire had always been good at hiding things, but today the cracks showed just a little more.

     “I’m… okay,” I replied, setting my mug down. “Just needed to talk to someone. Things have been complicated lately.”

The waiter arrived, and Claire ordered a black coffee with a polite nod. Once he left, she leaned forward slightly, resting her forearms on the table. Her eyes met mine with quiet concern.

      “Complicated how?” she asked gently. “You mentioned on the phone that you met someone. A new boyfriend?”

I nodded, glancing out the window at the people walking by with their dogs and shopping bags. The sunlight caught the leaves on the trees lining the street, making them glow. I took a breath, choosing my words carefully. I wasn’t ready to tell anyone the full truth—not the married part, not who he really was.

     “Yeah,” I said softly. “It happened kind of fast. We met at a club event thing. He’s nice. Attentive. It’s been fun, but I keep wondering if I’m moving too quickly. I told you and Evelyn at brunch that I had a boyfriend, but I didn’t go into details. It feels… new and scary at the same time.”

Claire’s coffee arrived. She wrapped both hands around the mug, letting the steam rise between us as she listened. Her expression stayed open, patient. 

     “New can be exciting,” she said after a moment. “But scary too. What makes you feel that way about him?”

I traced a finger along the edge of the table, feeling the smooth wood grain. 

     “He makes me feel seen. Like I’m not just the youngest sister who everyone thinks has it easy. When we’re together, it’s intense, passionate. He touches me like he really wants me there.” 

My cheeks warmed at the admission, but I kept going. 

     “Last night we spent time together again. It was amazing, but afterward I couldn’t stop thinking about how this could affect everything if it gets serious.”

Claire took a slow sip of her coffee, her gaze steady on me. She set the mug down carefully, the ceramic making a soft sound against the wooden table.

      “Does he know about us? The family?”

     “Not really,” I lied smoothly, shaking my head. “I kept it unknown. I don’t want to bring that world into this yet. It’s my thing. Separate from Evelyn’s perfect life and all the expectations.”

Claire nodded slowly, her fingers tapping once against the side of her mug. She seemed distracted for a second, her eyes flicking toward the window before returning to me. 

     “I get wanting something that’s just yours,” she said quietly. “Something away from the family pressure. But you have to be careful, Lila. New relationships can feel incredible at first, but they come with risks.”

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, the café sounds wrapping around us. I watched a mother help her toddler with a cookie at a nearby table, the child’s laughter bright and uncomplicated. It made my own situation feel even heavier.

     “Tell me more about how it feels,” Claire encouraged after some time, her voice gentle. 

      “Not the private stuff if you don’t want to. Just… the good parts.”

I smiled faintly, relaxing a little into the booth. The leather was warm from the sun.

      “He’s confident. The kind of guy who knows what he wants and goes after it. When we talk, he actually listens. And physically…” I paused, choosing my words.

       “It’s like he knows my body already. It’s addictive. But then I wake up the next day and wonder if I’m making a mistake by keeping it hidden.”

Claire reached across the table and gave my hand a light squeeze. Her palm was warm from the coffee mug.

      “You’re not alone in feeling conflicted. We all have parts of ourselves we hide from the family. The important thing is protecting your heart while you figure it out.”

Her words carried a depth that made me pause. I squeezed her hand back, noticing again how tense her shoulders looked, the way her smile didn’t fully reach her eyes.

     “Are you okay, Claire?” I asked. “You seem like you have a lot on your mind too.”

She pulled her hand back slowly, offering another smile.

      “I’m fine. Just work stress and family stuff. Nothing new. Today is about you.”

We continued talking for a long while—moving from my new relationship to lighter topics like Mom’s garden party plans and Dad’s terrible dad jokes. Claire laughed at the right moments, sharing stories from her week that made the conversation feel normal. But underneath, I sensed she was holding back just as much as I was. When we finally stood to leave, the café had grown busier with the lunch crowd. Claire pulled me into a warm hug right beside the booth. Her arms wrapped around me firmly, her chin resting briefly on my shoulder. She smelled like her usual light perfume mixed with coffee.

     “Whatever happens with this guy,” she whispered, “I’m here for you. We’re sisters. We stick together through the messy parts.”

I hugged her back tightly, feeling a rush of affection mixed with guilt. 

      “Thanks, Claire. I love you.”

We stepped out into the bright afternoon together. The breeze tugged at our hair and clothes as we walked toward the parking area. Claire checked her phone quickly, her expression tightening for a split second before she slipped it back into her bag.

      “I should head out,” she said. “Call me anytime if you need to talk more. Day or night.”

I watched her walk to her car, her steps purposeful but carrying that same underlying tension. As she drove away, I stood on the sidewalk for a few minutes longer, letting the sun warm my face. Leaves rustled overhead. Children played in the nearby park, their laughter carrying on the wind. My phone vibrated in my bag. A message from Marcus.

Marcus: Can’t stop thinking about you, Lila. Tonight?

I read it but didn’t reply right away. I stared at the screen, thumb hovering over the keyboard. My body responded with a rush of heat despite everything. The conflict tore at me—guilt for Evelyn, desire for him, fear of what this could destroy. I slipped the phone back into my bag and started walking toward the park, needing air and time to think. Leaves crunched softly under my shoes. Children laughed on the playground in the distance. Everything looked normal. But nothing felt normal anymore.