This time, when she smiled at him, it felt more genuine.
The tension in her shoulders slowly eased as she lifted her latte and took another sip. Maverick no longer looked as cold as before, and hearing him speak so casually made her feel more comfortable.
Maverick rested one arm against the table while lazily turning the coffee cup between his fingers.
“So… the divorce,”
Amara looked up at him.
“I honestly didn’t expect either of you to end things. You seemed very much in love with Elias.”
The question caught her off guard for a second.
Her fingers paused against the cup before she lowered it onto the table.
“It’s just…” She smiled faintly, though there was obvious sadness behind it. “We weren’t a good match for each other, I guess.”
Her fingers traced lightly against the warm cup in her hands as she spoke.
“I did love him a lot,” she admitted honestly. “But I think some things just aren’t meant to work no matter how badly you want them to.”
She gave a small shrug and smiled.
“It’s okay though. What ended… probably ended for a reason.”
Maverick watched her quietly.
“You have a very positive outlook on this,” Maverick murmured. “Most people wouldn’t react this calmly after loving someone for years and then ending the marriage only a year later.”
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“There must’ve been a big reason for it.”
Amara only shrugged again.
Her eyes lifted to meet his again before she tilted her head slightly.
“Actually, now that I think about it…” she said curiously, “I’m surprised I never saw you at the wedding.”
Maverick’s fingers stopped moving against his coffee cup.
“Actually… now that I think about it, I’m surprised I never saw you at the wedding.”
She leaned forward slightly as she spoke.
“All of Elias’s friends were there, but you weren’t.”
For the first time since they sat down together, Amara saw a strange expression flash across Maverick’s face.
It disappeared quickly, but not before she noticed it.
For a second, she thought he wouldn’t answer at all.
“I was in an accident back then.”
Amara’s expression immediately changed.
“I injured my spine pretty badly,” he continued calmly. “I had to go overseas for treatment and recovery.”
