sunshine, ALEX ALBON

xvi

"Yeah, very productive," Evelyn said, nodding. The seconds dragged by, thick with awkward tension. She risked a glance at Alex, who was watching her with an expression she couldn't quite read. Was that amusement? Confusion? Affection?

Alex cleared his throat, leaning slightly forward. "Evelyn, there's something I've been meaning to tell you," he began, his voice soft but steady. Her heart pounded in her chest, every fibre of her being suddenly alert.

But just as Alex opened his mouth to continue, the door of the coffee shop swung open with a jingle of bells. A gust of wind blew in, followed by a tall man with a booming voice. "Alex! Hey, man!"

Evelyn's heart sank as she saw the interruption. The newcomer, a friend of Alex's, made a beeline for their table, clapping Alex on the back with a wide grin. "What are you doing here? Thought you'd be out racing or something."

Alex's expression shifted, a mix of frustration and forced politeness. "Hey, Jake," he said, plastering on a smile. "There's not a race this weekend, so I'm just catching up with Evelyn."

Jake turned to Evelyn, offering a hand for her to shake. "Nice to meet you, Evelyn. Any friend of Alex's is a friend of mine."

She shook his hand, forcing a polite smile. "Nice to meet you too, Jake."

Jake pulled up a chair, clearly not planning to leave anytime soon. "So, what have you two been up to? Anything exciting?"

Evelyn glanced at Alex, who looked back at her with an apologetic smile. "Just... catching up," he repeated, his earlier serious tone completely gone.

"Well, don't let me interrupt," Jake said, as if he was about to leave, but he continued talking anyway, launching into a story about what he'd done the day before. Evelyn's mind drifted, the earlier tension dissipating into a dull ache of disappointment.

Alex glanced at her occasionally, his eyes trying to convey something unspoken, but the moment had passed. She sighed inwardly, picking up her coffee cup and taking a sip, the little warmth left doing little to soothe the cold knot of frustration in her stomach.

The conversation with Jake continued, Alex engaging with him while occasionally throwing Evelyn a glance. She forced herself to smile and nod, trying to seem engaged. Inside, she was replaying the moment before the interruption, wondering what Alex had been about to say.

As the minutes ticked by, Evelyn found herself drifting further away from the conversation. She finished her coffee, her mind racing with thoughts and unspoken words. Finally, she glanced at her watch, deciding she couldn't sit there any longer.

When Jake finally paused to take a breath, Evelyn seized the opportunity. "Well, this has been really nice," she said, standing up so abruptly she almost knocked over her coffee for the second time. "But I should get going."

Alex's expression fell, confusion and disappointment flashing across his face. "Oh, um, okay. Are you sure? We could—"

"No, no," Evelyn said, cutting him off with a strained smile. "I really do have to go. Things to do, you know? I have some... errands to run, and it's getting late. It was nice to meet you, Jake."

Jake smiled at her. "You too," he replied.

Alex nodded, though he looked disheartened. "Alright. I guess I'll see you around?"

"Definitely," she said. "It was good catching up, even if it was..." She glanced at Jake, who was already in a conversation with a stranger on the table next to them. "Interrupted."

She gathered her things quickly, avoiding Alex's gaze as she made her way to the door. As she walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just missed something important.

She left the coffee shop, hearing Alex's voice calling after her, but she didn't turn around.

"Evie, wait!"

The door swung shut behind her, leaving her outside in the cool air, her heart aching for what Alex might have said.

Alex watched her leave, his shoulders sagging slightly. Jake ended the conversation with the stranger before he glanced at Alex, then at the empty chair where Evelyn had been. "You okay, mate? Looked like you were about to say something."

Alex forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... maybe next time."

Jake nodded, still somewhat confused, and began recounting another story, but Alex's mind was elsewhere. He glanced at the door one last time, hoping to see Evelyn reappear, but it stayed shut.