The coffee shop smelled like caramel and late-night regrets. Maya sat sandwiched between Sally and Luna, stirring her iced drink with a straw she hadn't sipped once.
"I swear, if I drink another vanilla oat latte, I'm gonna turn into one," Sally muttered, eyes scanning the door like she was waiting for a miracle.
"You already act like one," Luna shot back, smirking.
Maya didn't say a word. She was too busy trying not to check the door for the hundredth time.
And then it opened.
Zeke and Eddie walked in. Zeke, all hype and grins, instantly spotted Sally.
"There's my baby," he said, arms already out like a damn movie scene.
Sally giggled and ran to him. "Took you long enough."
He spun her like they were the main characters.
Meanwhile, Eddie's eyes flicked toward Maya—and then away just as fast. He didn't break stride. Didn't even slow down. Just headed to a table in the corner and sat alone like she wasn't even there.
Maya's stomach dropped. She held her breath, gripping her cup.
"Damn," Luna whispered, low and tense. "That cold shoulder had ice on it."
Maya didn't reply. She couldn't. Her throat was tight, and her heart was making it hard to think.
"I need air," she muttered, standing up.
Luna grabbed her bag. "Come on. Let's go before Sally and Zeke start dry-humping in public."
They stepped outside into the night air. It was crisp, full of the city's noise. A group of guys stood nearby, loud and laughing, their eyes already locking onto Maya as she passed.
"Yo ma, where you headed looking that fine?" one called out.
"Damn, you got a man or what?"
Maya rolled her eyes and kept walking, pretending she didn't hear them—until she spotted Eddie stepping out of the coffee shop behind them.
And just like that, she flipped the switch.
She slowed her pace, leaned into her hips, and tossed her hair back. The boys noticed. They started following.
"Hey, don't ignore us, princess—"
One reached for her hand, and Maya stumbled—intentionally—right into him. Then dropped.
"Shit!" Luna gasped. "Maya!"
Eddie was already moving.
"Back off," he barked at the guy, kneeling beside her. "Are you okay? Did they touch you?"
Maya whimpered, looking up at him with wide, glassy eyes. "I—I didn't mean to—my ankle—"
He gently checked her knee, seeing the scrape. His fingers were careful. Protective. His jaw clenched like he wanted to murder someone.
"I'm fine," she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.
"You're bleeding."
"It's nothing," she murmured, letting her voice break a little. "I just… tripped."
He stared at her a second longer—then stood.
"I would've done that for anyone," he said flatly. "Don't get it twisted."
Then he walked away.
—
That night, Maya sat curled in bed while Luna and Sally hovered like overprotective witches. Zeke's phone was already in Sally's hands.
"I told him it's a trust exercise," Sally said, waving it. "He bought it like a dumb puppy."
Maya didn't laugh. Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard.
She texted Eddie, pretending to be Zeke.
"Yo bro, random question. What do you really think about Maya?"
Eddie replied fast.
"Why?"
Maya bit her lip and typed:
"Just wondering. Be real."
Eddie's answer came slow.
"I still love her. I probably always will. But she broke me. I trusted her and she made me look stupid. I can't do that again."
"My dad's sending me out of the country soon. Some business thing. Honestly… she's just a beautiful memory now. Something that still hurts when I think about it."
Maya dropped the phone like it burned her.
"No. No, no, no…" Her voice cracked. "He's leaving. He's really—he thinks I just… did that to him."
Tears poured fast and hard. Her shoulders shook, and she curled into herself.
"He hates me."
Sally hugged her tight. "He doesn't. That message screamed love."
Luna nodded. "You have to tell him the truth. No more hiding. No more protecting people who don't deserve it."
Maya wiped her eyes. "Tomorrow," she whispered. "I'll stop him tomorrow."
—
Morning came with heavy skies.
Eddie was already halfway to his car when Maya blocked his path.
He sighed and stepped sideways. She moved with him. Again. And again.
"Maya. Move."
"No," she said, voice cracking. "Not until you listen."
He didn't speak. Didn't look at her.
"Vic threatened me," she started. "I didn't push you away because I stopped loving you. I did it because… he slept with my mom."
That got his attention.
His head snapped toward her.
"He had pictures. Nudes. He said he'd leak them if I didn't play along. If I didn't ruin things with you. So I did. I humiliated you. I let you think I was a monster. Because I was terrified."
Her voice started to tremble.
"I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't let the world see my mom like that. I couldn't let you get pulled into that kind of mess."
She choked back a sob. "But I never stopped loving you. Not once. Not for a second."
Tears spilled from her eyes as she collapsed in front of him.
"Please," she whispered. "Don't go. Don't leave me. Don't be just a memory. I need you. I need my nerd. My safe place. My savior."
Eddie's face went pale. His lips parted—but no words came out. Just the sound of his own breath catching.
She cried harder, screaming now, like her whole soul was unraveling. Her fists hit the ground. Her voice broke open.
"Don't go!"
And he dropped to his knees.
He pulled her into him, arms wrapping around her like she was glass he'd die trying to protect. And then he kissed her.
It was messy. Wild. Desperate. Their pain poured into it. All the months of silence. Of unsaid things. Of dreams shattered and rebuilt.
When they finally broke apart, he didn't speak.
He just pressed his forehead against hers—and held her like he wasn't going anywhere.
Not now.
Not ever.