Chapter 33
Mia
M y eyes flutter open to a still dark room. I fumble for my phone on the nightstand to check the time, and it’s only 4 a.m. A sigh escapes me. Why am I up this early?
Scrolling through my notification, one message catches my attention. “Happy birthday! I know you’re still asleep, but I wanted to be the first one to say it.”
I sit up quickly, my heart pounding against my chest as I stare at the screen. The message sends shivers skittering across my skin, as if someone dumped a bucket of ice-cold water on me. His name appears on the screen. Douxy. Even after a year I still haven’t changed it. He doesn’t even know I call him that.
It’s just a happy birthday, and doesn't mean anything. But there is no way I am going back to sleep now.
With a heavy sigh, I swing my legs off the bed and drag myself up, the cool air causing me to shiver as I snatch my robe and wrap it snug around my body. My feet pad softly against the cold floor as I descend the stairs; the quietness of the house amplifies my restless thoughts.
In the kitchen, I prepare a large cup of iced coffee. I’m going to need it.
Back at my desk, I lay the phone down next to my writing pad. I’m already up, I might as well be productive. It’s another query, but it’s my birthday, so why not send one more? This agent checks all my boxes. She’s looking for new authors and particularly interested in fantasy and paranormal romance novels.
After an hour of crafting, what I hope is my best query letter. Stealing glances at my phone as if it will tell me what to do with Jake’s message. Ignoring it for now, I take a deep breath to steady my nerves, knowing I’ve done my best. With a final, hopeful look at the screen, and hit send.
Now comes the hardest part: the waiting, the silence, the possibility of rejection. My stomach twists at the thought, a constant reminder of how much I want this, and I bite my lip.
Desperate for a distraction, I grab my phone, seeking anything to take my mind off it. I mindlessly scrolled through Instagram, accidentally landing on Jake’s page. My eyes are drawn to the latest posts about Peak Pathfinders, the nonprofit he founded. It’s a mentoring club for young climbers, focusing on techniques and safety, offering a variety of activities, all free.
There he is, smiling, holding a rope, surrounded by young climbers. My heart clenches as I watch the video of him teaching them a technique, his voice enthusiastic, his gestures animated. The familiar timbre of his laugh in the clip sends a pang through me.
After a few minutes, I lock my phone and set it aside. I decide to draw myself a hot bath, and keep my phone far from the edge of the tub, and out of reach.
I sink slowly into the water, letting it lap gently against my skin. I close my eyes and lean back in the tub, letting the heat melt away my stress. Just perfect.
As the water cools down, I notice the gentle rays of the early morning sun filtering through the window, highlighting the serene beauty of the greenery outside, setting the tone for the productive day that lies ahead.
Stepping out of the tub, I quickly wrap myself in a soft, plush towel. I walk into my closet to select my outfit. Light pink wide leg pants, white bodysuit, neutral blazer, and pair with pink shoes.
I do my hair before putting on my clothes. As I’m adjusting my blazer, my phone lights with another notification. It’s from Luc.
Luc: Bonne fete, ma belle! I will pick you up to go to the café. See you in 30 mins.
Me: Thank you. See you soon.
Since the kiss last week, things between us have been surprisingly smooth, and I selfishly hope I don’t lose him as a friend. He’s the only friend I have here.
Setting my phone aside, I take a deep breath to steady myself and push aside any distractions. Today requires my undivided attention. Every detail of the café’s soft opening must go perfectly.
True to his word, Luc arrives exactly thirty minutes later. The drive from the vineyard to downtown Les Collines d’étoile— Starry hills , takes just a few minutes, but it feels like entering another world. As we leave the lush valley, the scenery shifts from the rolling hills, reaching up to the sky to the historical charm of the town.
My hand unconsciously reaches for my necklace, twisting it around my fingers.
“Everything is going to be amazing,” Luc assures me as he, notices my fidgeting.
I offer him a small, tentative smile, grateful yet still wrapped in a bundle of nerves.
Pulling up to the cafe, Luc hops out and comes around to help me from the car. It looks like we’re the first ones here because the café is dark and quiet inside. But as we step inside, the lights suddenly flash on, and a chorus of “Surprise!” fills the room. I freeze in place, overwhelmed.
When I see my dad, Rylee, and Sarah in the crowd, my hands fly up to cover my face, barely holding back the tears. “You guys are here… How… You said you weren’t coming.”
My dad pulls me into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around me securely, his scent enveloping me. “I thought you were mad at me for everything,” I mumble into his shirt. “For not going back to medical school, and for coming here.”
“Of course not, sweetheart. I know I’ve been hard on you. It’s because I wanted what’s best for you, and for you to be happy.” He pulls back to look at me. “I’m sorry if I made you feel otherwise.”
“I missed you, Dad.” Although we have our differences, I love him.
“I missed you too, sweetheart,” he says, his hand drawing circles on my back. “I knew about the letters, your mom and I talked before she passed. Sometimes we just need a little push.”
It takes me a moment to understand what he’s trying to say. “So you didn’t want me to go back to medical school?”
“I wanted you to do what makes you happy. I know sometimes what I want might not be what you want.” I didn’t know how much I wanted to hear that until now. We hold each other for a few minutes before I pull away.
Next, I turn to Rylee and Sarah, and punch them playfully on the arm as they pull me into a sandwich hug that nearly lifts me off my feet. “Why did you guys let me think you weren’t coming?” I shake my legs to keep myself from breaking into an ugly cry.
“Your grandmother wanted it to be a surprise,” they say together as Rylee fans her face to fight back her tears.
“I’ve missed you guys so much.” Although we video chat all the time, it’s not the same thing as seeing them in person.
“You look so Parisian.” Rylee giggles. “I love the look.”
“You guys are so freaking gorgeous.” I admire them from top to bottom. Rylee stands 5 feet 9, looks even taller with those heels on. Her hair, perfectly straight and silky, falling beautifully over her shoulders. Under the gentle lighting, her dark skin looks flawless. She’s stylishly dressed in a beige tank top matched with light purple high-waisted pants that crop neatly at her ankles. Beside her, Sarah rocks an olive-green jumpsuit. “I have the most gorgeous friends ever.”
After a few minutes filled with emotional reunions and happy tears, I turn to my grandmother and plant a kiss on her cheek. “Thank you.”
“You should thank Luc. It was his idea,” she tells me, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
I turn to Luc and pull him into a grateful hug, about to express my thanks, when the door opens again. My breath whooshes out of my lung as my eyes land on the new arrival—tall, blonde hair, green eyes, exuding a presence that immediately commands the room.
My stomach flips uncontrollably.
Flips after anxious flips .
I’m too young to die of a heart attack, right? And I can’t die on my birthday, that would also make it my death date.
My throat tightens painfully, making swallowing difficult and speaking impossible. His green eyes are as intense as I remember whenever he would look at me. Penetrating deep in my soul, yet comforting.
I pull my arms away from Luc as he approaches. My heart thudding in my chest as if it’s trying to leap out and bridge the gap between us.
He stops in front of me, and the room and everything else falls silent except for the sound of my heartbeat pounding loudly in my ears.
“Hi,” he says with a nervous smile, a contrast to the confident demeanor I remember.
I stand there frozen, words failing me entirely.
“Hi, I’m Luc,” he steps in, perhaps sensing my discomfort or breaking the thick tension. I had almost forgotten he was there, forgotten everything else existed except for the man in front of me.
I think I might need to see a doctor because my voice seems to have vanished. So, I do what any adult would do in such overwhelming situations, right? I walk out of the door, needing fresh air. It’s too hot inside.
“Mia, wait! I’m sorry for showing up like this,” Jake calls out after me, but I don’t stop as I step onto the cobblestone. The early morning air is cool against my skin, and the sunlight filters through the leaves of the trees lining the street, painting patterns on the ground. Crossing the street, a cyclist whizzes by with a friendly nod, the bell on his bike jingling in the quiet morning.
I make my way to a small square with benches and a water fountain, desperate for space to breathe. The morning dew touches the cherubs and water lilies sculpted in the fountain.
He catches up, his footsteps quick and anxious. “Hey, talk to me,” he says, his hand light on my arm, turning me to face him. I look down at where his fingers meet my skin, leaving an involuntary trail of goosebumps along my arm. When I look up, his green eyes, full of concern, hold mine, and my heart picks up it's dangerous pace.
“Why are you here? Did my grandmother invite you? You didn’t have to come.” My eyes narrow as I cross my arm over my chest. Each word slicing through the air with hurt rather than anger.
“I thought you’d be happy to see me. It’s your big day, and your birthday…” His eyes scan my face.
“You didn’t have to come. You could have stuck to the happy birthday text you sent me.” I take a step back, distancing my body to shield myself from the impact of his presence. Waves of long-suppressed feelings come crashing down. Longing, confusion, resentment, and something more profound that I don’t want to acknowledge right now.
“I wanted to come because I missed you.” His hand reaches out as if to touch me, but stops inches away from my arm.
“You miss me?” My hands clench at my side. “What exactly did you miss? The adrenaline, the rush, or the sex?” The questions pour out bitterly and accusingly. I know I have no right to be angry when we both agreed to our summer fling, but he can’t just show up out of nowhere.
“Mia, it’s not… I… I missed you, all of you, but I can see now that you’ve moved on with someone else.” His shoulders sag as if the weight of what he’s saying is too much to bear.
“Move on?” The words escape me in a laugh, a brittle sound that barely covers the sting those words carry. “There was nothing to move on from. It was just summer fun.” My words are sharper than I intended and I forced the tears threatening to spill back into their ducts.
He steps closer, closing the distance between us. As he pulls me toward him, I’m enveloped in the familiar scent of lavender and a hint of forest after rainfall. It’s a scent that brings back memories of long, carefree days and warm, entangled nights—memories I’ve tried to box away. For a second, I’m tempted to lean into that embrace, to let the comforting familiarity wash over me. “You know, it was more than that.” His voice is low and compelling. His eyes pierce into mine, stirring feelings I’m trying to bury.
The proximity is too much, the flood of memories are too intense. Maybe he wanted me, but not in the way I needed him to—fully, fearlessly. Maybe I wasn’t worth that to him. My heart races, a painful lump forms in my throat, and I forcibly pull away, needing to escape the magnetic pull of his presence.
“I can’t do this right now. I need to get back to the café.” Without giving him a chance to respond, I swiftly turn on my heel and walk away. I can’t afford to get into this right now.
I fan my face with my hands, trying to dry the tears that have escaped. The cool morning air brushes against my skin, helping to clear the fog of emotions clouding my thoughts.
Standing outside the café, I pause for a moment to gather myself. With each deep breath I take, my racing heart steadies, and the storm inside me calms. I straighten my blazer, and lift my chin, looking at the name of my cafe, The Corner of Books and Coffee , I muster the widest smile I can manage as I push open the doors. I can deal with my emotions about Jake later; right now my focus must be on the opening.