The cafe was sunny and quiet—tucked into a corner of the city where everything moved a little slower. Celeste sat across from Damien at a small outdoor table, stirring the straw in her iced coffee without drinking.
He'd already made her laugh once—something about hangover hair looking like a rejected lion—and now, he was telling a story from school, his eyes never quite leaving hers.
She couldn't explain it, but something about him today felt… different. Confident. Like he knew something she didn't.
"Did I say anything stupid last night?" she asked suddenly, interrupting his story.
He paused. "Define stupid."
She narrowed her eyes. "Did I cry about Leon? Beg for chicken nuggets? Punch someone?"
He smiled softly. "None of that. You were… honest. That's all."
Her stomach did a weird little twist. She searched his face, but he gave nothing away.
Before she could press him further, she heard the voice.
Sharp. Coated in honey, dipped in poison.
"Well, well. Look who finally crawled out in public."
Celeste froze.
Damien's posture changed instantly—straightened, stiff.
Maureen stood by their table in designer sunglasses and a smirk that could cut glass.
Celeste blinked. "Maureen?"
Maureen took off her glasses slowly. "Didn't mean to interrupt your little pity lunch. I just figured if you're back out pretending to be yourself, I should at least say hello."
There was something off in her tone. Not just bitterness—certainty. Like she knew something Celeste didn't.
Damien stood. "Maureen, don't."
"Oh, I'm just being friendly," she said innocently, eyes never leaving Celeste. "Though I do wonder… do they serve identity fraud on the menu now, or is that just a special for you?"
Celeste's heart dropped.
"What?"
Maureen smiled wider. "Nothing. Just thinking out loud."
Damien stepped between them. "That's enough."
Maureen tilted her head, amused. "Is it? Because I feel like we're just getting started."
And then she walked off—calm, graceful, victorious.
Celeste sat in stunned silence, ice melting in her untouched drink.
Damien didn't sit. He watched Maureen disappear into the crowd, jaw clenched.
"Damien," Celeste said quietly, voice tight. "What did she mean?"
He hesitated—too long.
And Celeste's stomach twisted all over again.