Mia sat at the cozy restaurant, sipping her water and checking her watch for what felt like the hundredth time. She was starting to get anxious, wondering if Caleb was going to show up at all. Just as she was about to give up hope, the door swung open and Caleb walked in, a charming smile spreading across his face.
"Hey, I'm so sorry I'm late," he said, giving Mia a quick kiss on the cheek before taking his seat.
Mia forgave him with a smile, and they ordered their food. As they waited for their meals to arrive, they chatted about their day, laughing and joking together. Caleb seemed happy to be with Mia, but his mind began to wander. He couldn't help but think about how easy it was to see her whenever he wanted, how convenient their relationship was.
When their food arrived, Caleb's gaze fell on Mia's plate, and he noticed the green beans accompanying her main course. Without thinking, he reached over and started to remove them.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Mia asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Oh, sorry, I just thought you might not like them," Caleb said, feeling a twinge of guilt.
Mia smiled. "Actually, I love green beans. Why would you think I don't?"
Caleb apologized, feeling a bit silly. But as he looked at Mia's plate, his mind suddenly drifted to Ava,who detested green beans. He couldn't help but think about how Ava would have appreciated him removing the offending vegetable.
Mia noticed a distant look in Caleb's eyes and reached out to touch his hand. "Hey, everything okay?"
Caleb snapped back to reality, feeling a bit caught out. "Yeah, sorry, just got lost in thought for a second."
Mia smiled and leaned in, her eyes sparkling. "I'm glad you're here with me now."
Caleb smiled back,But his mind continued to wander, wondering why he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
As they finished their meal and Caleb settled the bill, they left the restaurant, ready to head home. Outside, as they were about to enter Caleb's car, they bumped into Aiden. His eyes widened in surprise as he took in the scene before him.
"Hey, Caleb" Aiden said, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and concern.
Caleb's expression faltered, unsure of how to respond. He hadn't expected to run into Aiden, especially not with Mia by his side.
Meanwhile, Mia seemed oblivious to the tension. She cheerfully greeted Aiden, her smile bright and carefree. "Hey, Aiden! How are you?"
Aiden's gaze lingered on Caleb before he forced a smile, trying to compose himself. "I'm good, thanks. Just grabbing some food for my mom. She's been looking after my sister at the hospital."
Caleb's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. He hadn't known that Ava was in the hospital.
Aiden's eyes seemed to bore into Caleb's, as if searching for something. But then, he simply nodded and said, "Anyway, I'll let you two get going. Nice running into you."
With that, Aiden turned and entered the restaurant, leaving Caleb and Mia standing outside. Caleb watched him go, feeling a pang of guilt and uncertainty.
Mia, still cheerful, turned to Caleb and asked, "Want to grab some coffee somewhere? I'm not ready to go home yet."
But Caleb's mind was elsewhere, his thoughts consumed by what Aiden said. He hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
Aiden stepped into the restaurant, his mind replaying the unexpected encounter with Caleb and Mia. He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
Why was Caleb, his sister's boyfriend, holding hands with her best friend, Mia? And why did he look so guilty when Aiden mentioned his sister's hospitalization?
Aiden's thoughts swirled with questions, but he deliberately pushed them aside. He didn't want to get entangled in adult drama, especially not when his family was already dealing with enough stress. His sister's accident had been a huge blow, and his mom was still taking care of her at the hospital.