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My hands are almost shaking with excitement as I pick up the tray. I have a mental pep-talk with myself as I walk over to Zane, ordering myself to calm down and relax.

I think, after the disaster that was dating Caven, I'm just eager to find someone different. I don't think you could get more different than Caven with Zane. For starters, they look like complete opposites.

I set the tray down on Zane's table and take off the coffee and croissant.

'Please,' he says when I go to pick up the tray again. 'Sit with me?'

It's empty in the café and it's looking like it will be a slow morning, so I indulge him and sit down.

'I notice that the bartender hasn't come by in a while,' he comments with interest. 'Am I allowed to ask if you're still seeing him?'

'Of course you're allowed to ask,' I tell him. 'But no, I'm not. We're not dating anymore.'

'Ah, okay,' he replies, smiling softly. 'I think he's the one that's lost out there.'

I smile at his sweet compliment. 'Thank you.'

'I went to school with Caven, but we weren't friends. He wasn't the...kindest student.'

Remembering his description of Zane, I grimace.

'Yeah, I can imagine that. It didn't end great between us, I'll be honest. We only went on three dates, but that was all I needed to know we aren't suited.'

I become aware that Zane didn't ask what had happened and probably doesn't want to hear about it.

'Sorry,' I apologise and stand up. 'I won't bore you with my life story, I'll let you get back to writing.'

Zane reaches out and clasps my wrist. My skin warms under his touch.

'No, please, stay,' he says and quickly lets go of my wrist. 'I'd like to hear about it.'

I hesitate for a moment, but take a seat again. Pippa comes in. She seems surprised to see me sat with Zane, but she neglects to comment. She smiles at both of us and disappears into the back room.

'Tell me what happened if you want,' he says. 'I'm happy to listen.'

I sit back in the chair and chew my bottom lip, considering how forthcoming to be. Zane doesn't like Caven, that much is obvious. I guess that means I can tell him the full story.

'He asked me out and we've been on three dates. They've been alright, fun and not very serious. It was on the second date that I realised we weren't compatible. I agreed to the third date so that I could let him down gently.'

Whilst I explain this to Zane, he rests his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand, listening intently to me.

'On the third date, I didn't get the chance to mention how I wasn't feeling it anymore, but he invited me for brunch the next day. I arrived early in the morning and saw a woman leaving his house from a booty call the night before.'

Zane's eyebrows raise up, but he remains silent.

'We never agreed on anything and we're both single, but I just thought it was a bit muggy of him to do that, knowing full well that I'd be arriving fifteen minutes later. Personally, I wouldn't sleep with someone whilst dating someone else. I wouldn't like to focus on two people like that, but hey, everyone is different, I guess.'

Zane's eyebrows draw together in thought and he mulls my story over for a moment before replying.

'I get what you mean about you being single and not really owing each other anything, but it is sleazy of him to have the woman leave so soon to you arriving. I suppose it also depends on what it was with the woman, was it a casual hook up? A budding relationship? Because that would make a difference.'

'Yeah, exactly. He told me it was just sex, that he isn't interested.'

'I suppose that makes it slightly better, but, I still wouldn't do it. I'm like you. If I'm dating someone, my sole focus is on them, not others.'

'Precisely.' I shrug. 'Anyway, he can do whatever he wants, I want no part of his life.'

I can't decipher the way Zane looks at me. It's like he's trying to work me out or something.

'How did Caven take your rejection?'

I pull a face and Zane chuckles.

'That bad, huh?'

'I kinda rejected him over text at first, but then he came into the café the other morning.'

'Oh, yes, I saw that.'

'I hope you didn't hear it. It got a little heated, he said I wasn't really worth it and stormed out. Then he leaves flowers at my door, so strange.'

'He obviously doesn't handle rejection well,' he says and gives me a half-smile. 'Don't hold it against him too much, I'm not sure many people handle rejection well.'

'Yeah, I guess,' I reply.

Conscious that we've been talking about me and my life, I try and put the conversation back onto him.

'What about you, anyway? How's the book going?'

He glances back at his laptop and shrugs.

'Not horrendously. I've written the first three or so chapters, but I think it's going to be a slow-burn this one. I haven't worked out where I'm even going with the plot yet.'

'That's interesting though, that even the author doesn't know.'

'I suppose,' he replies and then chuckles. 'Would be nice to have some kind of idea, though.'

I smile at him. 'How come you come into the café each day?

I already know the answer to this question, but I don't want him to think that Pippa has been gossiping about his life.

I mean, she has, but I don't want him self-conscious of it.

His jaw clenches and he sits back in the chair.

'It's better than being alone in that big house,' he states. 'It's too quiet and lonely, I can't hear over all that silence.'

Strangely, I know exactly what he means.

His green eyes pin me to my chair.

'I guarantee some busybody in this town has told you about my sob-story by now,' he says bitterly. 'No-good dad skipped out when I was five, sister died and then mother died three years later.'

He glances over his shoulder and his eyes soften. I look to see what he is seeing and spot Pippa serving a customer.

'Or maybe Pippa told you. I can't blame her. She's only trying to pre-warn you in case you accidentally say something insensitive that will upset me.' He sighs and looks down at his hands. 'I've thought about moving away, somewhere where people don't know my sad life story.'

I'm actually scared by how much those words strike a chord with me. He has just mentioned doing exactly what I have done, going somewhere new and starting over.

'I know how tempting that is,' I reply quietly. 'What is making you stay?'

Please stay.

He looks up and meets my gaze. He holds it for a moment and I feel like I can't breathe. Only when he looks away, do I finally exhale.

'I grew up in this town. Almost every memory I have of my sister and mum is here. That's why I haven't moved out of that big house that is way too large for one person. It's all I have left of them.'

'I understand that,' I respond softly. 'But you must know that, where ever you go, they're still going to be with you.'

He gives me a weak smile. 'Yeah, I know.'

A comfortable silence settles between us. The hissing of the coffee machine makes me jump. I realise how long I've been sat here, avoiding work to talk to Zane. I get to my feet.

'I should get back to work,' I tell him. 'It was nice talking to you, Zane.'

He looks disappointed, but his expression quickly morphs into nerves.

'I know that you and Caven have only just ended, but do you think you'd want to go out with me some time? It can be a purely platonic thing, if you'd like.'

My heart starts thumping loudly. I curl my hands into fists at my sides and dig my nails into my palms to check that this is real and I'm not dreaming.

'Is that what you'd like? A platonic date?'

My tone is light and teasing. Zane resists a smile but it comes through as a smirk.

'No, I'd like more than that.'

I grin at him. 'More than that it is, then.'

I get my pad and pen out of my pocket and scrawl down my number.

'Here's my number. I'd love to go out sometime,' I tell him eagerly. 'Speak to you later, Zane.'

He smiles back at me and I almost stumble over my own feet like an idiot.

'I'll text you, Lily.'

My heart continues beating rapidly as I walk back to the counter and step behind it. Pippa has just finished serving a customer and turns to me in an instant.

'What was that?' She asks excitedly. 'Did I see you write him a note?'

I roll my eyes at her. 'We're not in school, Pips. I gave him my number.'

'Your number?!' She cries and I shush her.

I glance over at Zane and see him pointedly ignoring us, but there's a smile on his lips.

Great.

He knows we're talking about him.

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Spending Easter with the fam, next update will be on Monday.

Have a magical Easter angels, don't forget to treat yourselves! 🐰🥚🐣🐥

Love, eggs and orgasms, Laila x