Hers to Love

Chapter 29

Maria sat in her car, staring blankly at the courthouse steps. It had been two weeks since she had any contact with Amir or his family. They had sent her messages saying they missed her and wanted to see her, but she had only replied once, claiming she was busy with a big case. It was an excuse she wasn't sure they believed, but it was the only way she knew how to distance herself.

The memory of that night at the hotel kept replaying in her mind—the sight of Amir with Elodia, the heartbreak that had nearly overwhelmed her. She had texted Chad immediately, asking him to pick her up. When he arrived, she told him everything. Chad had listened quietly, understanding like a good friend.

"Maria," Chad had said as they drove away from the hotel, the city lights blurring in the rain, "I knew something was off when we saw Amir at the coffee shop that day. The way he looked at you—it wasn't just friendly. But I could tell there was something he wasn't saying."

Maria had sighed, resting her head against the cool glass of the car window. "He didn't even try to reach out after that night, Chad. It's clear where his priorities lie. He's with someone else now, and he's happy. No complications, no messy feelings."

Chad had reached over, squeezing her hand gently. "You deserve someone who's sure about you, Maria. Someone who's not afraid to show it."

Now, as she prepared for another grueling day in court, Maria couldn't shake the emptiness that had settled in her chest. She knew Chad was right, but it didn't make the pain any easier to bear. Every time her phone buzzed with a message from Amir's family, it felt like a twist of the knife.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the car window. It was her colleague, Michelle, signaling that it was time to go inside. Maria nodded and grabbed her briefcase, pushing thoughts of Amir to the back of her mind as she stepped out of the car.

As they walked toward the courthouse, Michelle glanced at Maria, noticing the tension in her friend's face. "You okay? You've been quiet lately."

Maria forced a small smile. "Just a lot on my mind. But I'll be fine. This case needs my full attention."

Michelle gave her a sympathetic look but didn't press further. As they entered the courtroom, Maria steeled herself for the battle ahead, knowing she needed to focus on her work, no matter how much her heart ached.

But in the back of her mind, the unanswered question lingered—why hadn't Amir tried to reach out? And why, despite everything, did she still care?

——

Amir sat across from Elodia at a quiet café, stirring his coffee absently as she talked about her day. He nodded at the right moments, offering a smile here and there, but his mind was somewhere else—somewhere far from the lively chatter around them and the warmth of Elodia's presence.

"Amir?" Elodia's voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. She was leaning closer now, her eyes searching his face. "You're awfully quiet today."

He forced a smile, pushing the unease down. "Just a lot on my mind, I guess."

Elodia frowned, sensing his detachment. "You've been different lately," she said, her voice soft but tinged with concern. "We used to have fun, laugh, and talk for hours. But now..." She trailed off, studying his face for any sign of the man she'd once known.

Amir sighed, setting his spoon down. "I'm sorry, Elodia. I don't mean to be distant."

But before he could say more, Elodia leaned in, her hand resting on his cheek as she tilted her head, her lips just inches from his. "Maybe this will remind you," she whispered, closing the distance between them in a slow, deliberate motion.

Just as their lips touched, a wave of discomfort washed over Amir. It wasn't that Elodia was doing anything wrong, but it felt wrong to him. He pulled back slightly, enough for her to notice, and she stopped, her expression shifting from surprise to frustration.

"You're never like this, Amir," Elodia said, her voice sharp with anger. She pulled back fully, crossing her arms as she glared at him. "What's going on? You've been so distant, and now you're pulling away from me. Is there someone else?"

Amir ran a hand through his hair, avoiding her gaze. "It's not like that, Elodia. I'm just... I'm just not in the right headspace right now."

She scoffed, shaking her head. "Not in the right headspace? You've been avoiding me for weeks, Amir. If you're not interested anymore, just say it."

"It's not that simple," Amir replied, finally looking at her. "I don't want to hurt you."

Elodia's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "Then what is it? Because it feels like you're here with me, but your mind is somewhere else. Where are you, Amir?"

He didn't answer right away, his thoughts drifting to Maria—the woman he had tried so hard to forget, but couldn't. He remembered how he had ghosted her, how he'd shown up at the wedding with Elodia, thinking it would be easier to move on. But nothing about this felt easy. It only felt wrong.

"I'm sorry, Elodia," Amir finally said, his voice quiet. "I don't think I'm the right person for you. I'm just... I'm dealing with a lot right now, and it's not fair to drag you into it."

Elodia's anger softened, replaced by a look of hurt. "So, this is it then? You're just going to push me away?"

Amir shook his head. "It's not about pushing you away. I just don't want to lead you on when I'm not even sure of myself."

Elodia stood up, grabbing her bag with a sigh. "You should've told me sooner, Amir. I'm not here to be anyone's second choice." She paused, looking at him one last time. "I hope you figure out whatever it is that's haunting you."

With that, she walked out of the café, leaving Amir alone with his thoughts. As he watched her go, a heavy weight settled in his chest. He knew she was right—he was lost, confused, and he had no idea how to fix it. All he knew was that his mind kept going back to Maria, no matter how much he tried to move forward.