Again

Chapter 13

Rhea hadn't planned to see Wayne tonight, but the weight of her thoughts felt unbearable. If she didn't find someone to talk to, she'd unravel. The last few days had been a blur of confusion, each thought looping back to Jake, to Jenna, to the moment she saw them together. It was irrational—she knew that. But rationality had nothing to do with the tightness in her chest every time she pictured them.

The café was a dimly lit refuge near her place, the warm glow from the overhead lights casting soft shadows. Rhea sat at a small table in the corner, hands wrapped around a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. She didn't need caffeine; she needed clarity, and tonight, that meant Wayne.

When Wayne finally slid into the seat across from her, his brows knit in mild concern as he took in her posture, tense and uncertain. "Alright, what's going on?" he asked, his voice soft, inviting.

Rhea glanced up at him, hesitating. She didn't want to sound ridiculous, but here she was. "I've got to tell you something... about the other night. After the concert."

Wayne's eyebrows lifted, curiosity and worry mingling as he gave her his full attention. "Okay, I'm listening."

Her fingers traced circles around her coffee cup, grounding herself. "I lied. About the cousin thing. It wasn't family I ran into after the concert." She let out a shaky breath, then admitted, "It was... Jake."

A flicker of surprise crossed Wayne's face, but he said nothing, silently encouraging her to continue.

"He wasn't alone," she added, a note of bitterness creeping in. "He was with a woman. Jenna." She laughed, the sound dry and self-deprecating. "I... followed them. Watched them, actually. And I know it sounds insane, but I couldn't stop myself. Seeing him with her... it just messed with me. I don't even know what I'm feeling toward him. He's Jake, my friend, you know?" She shook her head, the words barely doing justice to the tangle of emotions inside her.

Wayne studied her, amusement and understanding blending in his gaze. "So... you're jealous?"

Rhea's cheeks flushed, and she looked down. "I don't know if I'd call it that." She paused, then murmured, "It's just... we had one night. It was supposed to be casual, no strings, but I can't get it out of my head. I mean, it was fun, but now I'm... bothered. Why am I bothered?"

Wayne leaned back, considering her words. "Maybe because that one night meant more than you thought?"

"Maybe," she said softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I thought I knew him so well. But seeing him with her, seeing him act so differently—it felt like I don't know him at all."

A shadow crossed Wayne's expression, almost as if her words struck a chord within him. "Sometimes, 'no strings' moments can tangle you up before you even realize it," he said, his tone laced with something that felt close to understanding.

She offered him a small, grateful smile, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "I think I'll figure it out someday. But I just needed to talk to someone right now. Thank you for being here." She reached out, resting her hands over his, her eyes searching his face. "Have you ever felt like that?"

For a moment, Wayne's usual calm demeanor faltered. He looked down, his jaw tensing as he wrestled with something unspoken. "Yeah," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, a faint, conflicted smile tugging at his lips.

The silence that settled over them was thick, weighted with something deeper than words could express. She sensed he wasn't ready to share, that whatever he was holding back ran deeper than he let on.

After a beat, Rhea broke the silence, a curious gleam in her eyes. "What about you? You look like you need to get something off your chest too."

Wayne's eyes widened, a faint blush creeping up his neck. "What? No, I'm fine," he stammered, then, realizing how red he'd turned, sighed. "Actually... no. I guess I'm not."