I blinked and realized I’d been standing too long over a perfectly still pancake.
“Yeah?” I said quickly.
She studied me for a second, and it occured to me that she seemed far too observant for this early in the morning.
“How are things with Seth?” she asked lightly.
There it was. I tensed automatically. It was such a casual question, and she probably didn’t know it was a dangerous subject to me right now.
“They’re good,” I said too quickly.
My mom hummed like she wasn’t entirely convinced but didn’t push further. I forced myself to flip the pancake properly this time.
“He’s just been busy,” I added.
That part wasn’t entirely a lie, I just didn’t say the rest. That I’d also been avoiding the café more than I wanted to admit.
I didn’t tell her that every time I thought about going back, I hesitated.
I wasn’t sure what version of Seth I was going to get when I walked through the door, or what version of myself I’d be when I saw him again.
The front door opened then, saving me from whatever follow-up question was forming. Levi and Mason arrived together, already laughing about something I missed.
The atmosphere shifted immediately. My mom brightened. The kitchen filled with noise and movement and plates being set down and coffee being poured.
For a while, I was grateful for it. Breakfast became a blur of conversation I mostly didn’t follow. I answered when I had to, smiled when it made sense, and passed things across the table.
I let everyone else carry the energy. My mind stayed elsewhere. Eventually, I slipped outside with my coffee.
The yard was quieter, and cooler. I leaned against the railing and finally took a proper sip. A few seconds later, footsteps approached behind me. Levi.
He handed me another cup without asking.
I raised an eyebrow. “I already have one.”
“You look like you needed a refill,” he said.
I took the second cup anyway.
“Thanks,” I told him.
Levi leaned beside me against the railing. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
“You look miserable,” Levi finally commented.
I snorted. “How nice of you to notice.”
“So I’m right? Something bothering you?”
I took another sip instead of responding. Levi watched me for a second longer than necessary.
Then he said, “This about Seth?”
I nearly choked on my coffee. I turned my head slowly. “Not you too.”
He shrugged. “Mom asked me earlier.”
Of course she did.
