The café was warm and noisy compared to LH.I tied my apron, took orders, smiled at customers, and let the rhythm of work pull me back into something normal. Milk steamed. Cups clinked. Nick argued with the espresso machine like it had personally offended him. Lila sang along to the playlist, confidently wrong.For a while, it worked.Then my phone buzzed.I didn’t check it right away.I finished handing over a drink, wiped the counter, took another order. The vibration came again—slow, deliberate. Like whoever was on the other end knew I’d feel it even if I didn’t look.When I finally checked, my chest tightened.You think she won’t come back to me.No greeting. No question mark.Just certainty.I locked the screen and slid the phone into my pocket.Not today.“Tanya?” Nick’s voice cut through my thoughts. “You okay?”“Yeah,” I said quickly. Too quickly. “Just hungry.”He gave me a look that said he didn’t buy it, but he didn’t push. “Take five when you can.”I nodded, grateful.The
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