The afternoon shift at Mr. Ben's was slow.
Jane stood behind the counter, wiping down the espresso machine for the third time, her mind elsewhere.
Last night's text exchange with Sophia kept replaying in her head.
"I'm glad you were there last night."
"Me too."
Simple words. But they'd kept Jane awake longer than she wanted to admit.
The bell above the door chimed.
Jane glanced up automatically, her customer-service smile already forming.
Then froze.
Ethan stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, looking around the café like he'd just discovered something interesting.
His eyes found hers.
He smiled.
Jane's stomach dropped.
What is he doing here?
Ethan approached the counter, his expression casual, easy. "Hey, Jane. Fancy seeing you here."
"Hi." Jane's voice came out more cautious than she intended. "What can I get you?"
"Cappuccino. Extra foam." He leaned against the counter slightly. "And maybe a few minutes of your time?"
Jane's pulse quickened. "I'm working."
"I can see that. I'll wait." He gestured toward a table by the window. "Take your time."
He paid, took his receipt, and walked over to the table.
Then sat.
And watched her.
Jane turned back to the espresso machine, her hands moving on autopilot as she steamed milk and pulled the shot.
But she could feel his eyes on her.
Steady. Unwavering.
Mr. Ben appeared beside her, his voice low. "Friend of yours?"
Jane glanced at him. "Sort of."
"He's been staring at you since he walked in."
"I know."
Mr. Ben studied her for a moment, then nodded toward Ethan. "You should go talk to him. Otherwise, he's not going to stop."
Jane hesitated. "I'm working."
"It's slow. I can handle it." Mr. Ben's expression softened. "Go. Before he burns a hole in the floor from staring."
Jane exhaled, then nodded. "Okay. Thanks."
She finished the cappuccino, placed it on a tray, and walked over to Ethan's table.
He looked up as she approached, his smile widening. "There she is."
Jane set the cup down in front of him. "Your cappuccino."
"Thanks." He gestured to the seat across from him. "Sit?"
"I really shouldn't—"
"Jane. Please."
There was something in his tone—not demanding, but earnest.
Jane glanced back at Mr. Ben, who gave her a subtle nod.
She sat.
Ethan took a sip of his coffee, then set it down, his expression shifting. "I need to ask you something."
Jane's chest tightened. "Okay..."
"You like Sophia, don't you?"
Jane's breath caught.
She opened her mouth to deflect, to laugh it off, but the words wouldn't come.
Ethan leaned forward slightly, his voice quieter now. "It's okay. You don't have to lie. I already know."
Jane's heart pounded. "How—"
"Because I saw the way you looked at her. At dinner. In the car. Hell, even when you thought no one was watching." He smiled faintly. "You're not as good at hiding it as you think."
Jane looked away, her hands curling in her lap. "It doesn't matter."
"It does." Ethan's tone was firm but kind. "Because she likes you too."
Jane's head snapped up. "What?"
"Sophia. My sister. The emotionally constipated workaholic who never lets anyone in?" Ethan's grin widened. "She likes you. A lot."
Jane stared at him, her mind racing. "Then why—"
"Because she's terrified." Ethan leaned back in his chair. "Sophia doesn't know how to do this. Feelings. Vulnerability. She's spent her whole life being perfect, being in control. And now you show up and mess all that up."
Jane's throat felt tight. "I didn't mean to—"
"I'm not saying it's a bad thing." Ethan's expression softened. "I'm saying she needs a push. And that's where I come in."
Jane frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ethan glanced around the café, then leaned in, his voice dropping. "I've been... let's call it 'showing interest' in you. Flirting. Asking about you. Making it very clear I think you're great."
Jane blinked. "I noticed."
"Good. That was the point." Ethan grinned. "Because if there's one thing I know about my sister, it's that she won't admit what she wants until she thinks she's about to lose it."
Jane's eyes widened. "You're making her jealous."
"Exactly." Ethan looked far too pleased with himself. "And judging by the way she almost snapped her pen in half when I mentioned wanting your number, I'd say it's working."
Jane sat back, processing. "So... all of this. The flirting. The attention. It's fake?"
"Completely." Ethan's smile was genuine now. "Don't get me wrong—you're great. Smart, sharp, way too good for someone like me. But you're not my type."
Jane almost laughed despite herself. "What is your type?"
"Complicated. But that's a conversation for another time." Ethan's expression turned serious. "Right now, I'm trying to help my sister stop being an idiot."
Jane looked down at her hands. "What if it doesn't work? What if she doesn't—"
"She will." Ethan's voice was confident. "Trust me. I've known Sophia my whole life. She's stubborn as hell, but when she cares about something—or someone—she doesn't let go."
Jane's chest ached. "So what do I do?"
"Play along." Ethan's grin returned. "Let me flirt. Let me be interested. And watch what happens."
Jane hesitated. "I don't know..."
"Do you like her?"
"Yes."
"Then trust me."
Jane looked at him for a long moment.
Then, slowly, nodded. "Okay."
Ethan's grin widened. "Good. Because she just walked in."
Jane's head whipped toward the door.
Sophia stood just inside the café, her eyes scanning the room.
And then they landed on Jane.
And Ethan.
Sitting together.
Sophia's expression shifted—just for a second.
Something sharp and unguarded flickered across her face before she smoothed it away.
She walked toward them, her steps measured, controlled.
But Jane could see the tension in her shoulders.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, his smile easy. "Well, look who it is. Hey, sis."
Sophia's gaze flicked to him, then back to Jane. "Ethan. What are you doing here?"
"Having coffee. Chatting with Jane." He gestured to the empty seat beside him. "Join us?"
Sophia's jaw tightened. "I was just stopping by for a coffee. To go."
"You sure?" Ethan's tone was light, teasing. "We were just talking about you, actually."
Sophia's eyes narrowed. "Were you."
"Yep. I was telling Jane how you used to collect bugs as a kid. Remember? You had that whole terrarium thing going."
Jane bit back a smile.
Sophia did not look amused. "That was a long time ago."
"Still cute though." Ethan glanced at Jane, his grin widening. "Don't you think?"
Jane felt Sophia's gaze on her, sharp and searching.
She met Sophia's eyes, then looked back at Ethan. "I think it's sweet."
Sophia's expression flickered again.
Ethan leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping just enough to sound intimate. "Jane was just telling me about her business classes. Super interesting stuff. You didn't mention she was this smart, Soph."
"I did mention it," Sophia said, her tone clipped.
"Yeah, but you undersold it." Ethan's smile was infuriating. "She's brilliant."
Jane's cheeks flushed. "I wouldn't say—"
"I would." Ethan held her gaze just a beat too long.
Sophia's hands curled into fists at her sides.
"Jane," Sophia said, her voice carefully controlled. "Can I talk to you? Privately?"
Jane's heart jumped. She glanced at Ethan, who gave her the smallest nod.
Play along.
Jane looked back at Sophia. "I'm actually on my break right now. And Ethan was just—"
"Keeping her company," Ethan finished smoothly. "We were thinking about grabbing lunch after her shift. You're welcome to join, of course."
The air between them crackled.
Sophia's gaze locked onto Ethan's. "You're taking her to lunch."
"If she wants to." Ethan glanced at Jane, his expression open, inviting. "What do you say, Jane?"
Jane felt Sophia's eyes on her.
This was the moment.
She could say no. End this. Tell Sophia the truth.
Or she could push.
Make Sophia feel what Jane had been feeling since the moment they met.
Jane looked at Ethan, then smiled softly. "That sounds nice."
Sophia's breath hitched—just barely. God
But Jane heard it.
Ethan stood, draining the last of his cappuccino. "Great. I'll come back at the end of your shift. See you then, Jane."
He turned to Sophia, his smile maddeningly casual. "Good to see you, sis."
Then he walked out.
The bell chimed as the door closed behind him.
Leaving Jane and Sophia standing there.
Alone.
The silence stretched.
Sophia's voice was low, tightly controlled. "You're going to lunch with him."
It wasn't a question.
Jane met her gaze, her heart pounding. "He asked. I said yes."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
Sophia's jaw tightened. "Because—" She stopped herself, her hands curling into fists. "Because he's—"
"He's what?" Jane stepped closer, her voice soft but challenging. "He's nice. He's interested. He asked."
Sophia looked away, her chest rising and falling with controlled breaths.
"Sophia," Jane said quietly. "If there's a reason I shouldn't go, tell me."
Sophia's eyes snapped back to hers.
And for a moment—just a moment—Jane saw it.
The jealousy. The frustration. The want.
But then Sophia's walls slammed back into place.
"No," she said, her voice hollow. "No reason."
Jane's chest ached.
She wanted to push harder. To demand the truth.
But not here. Not like this.
"Okay," Jane said softly. "Then I'll see you around."
She turned and walked back toward the counter.
And Sophia stood there, watching her go, her hands trembling at her sides.
Sophia ordered her coffee on autopilot.
She didn't taste it.
She barely remembered walking back to her car.
All she could see was Jane.
Sitting with Ethan.
Smiling at him.
Agreeing to lunch.
Sophia's hands gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white.
This is what you wanted, she told herself. You agreed to help him. You told him you'd put in a good word.
But watching it happen—watching Jane smile at someone else, watching Ethan lean in close, watching them make plans—
It felt like drowning.
Sophia closed her eyes, exhaling slowly.
She'd been so careful. So controlled.
And now it was slipping through her fingers.
Her phone buzzed.
Ethan.
"You're welcome, by the way."
Sophia stared at the message, her jaw tightening.
Then she typed back:
"For what?"
"You'll figure it out."
Sophia threw her phone onto the passenger seat.
She didn't understand.
But one thing was clear.
She couldn't keep pretending this didn't matter.
Because it did.
Jane mattered.
And Sophia was running out of time to do something about it.