C3 Recap..
Sierra arrived at the café ten minutes early.
She wasn't sure why.
Maybe because she didn't want Alex to arrive before her.
Maybe because she wanted time to collect herself.
Or maybe because some part of her was still the girl from three years ago who had once been excited to see him.
She immediately rejected the thought.
That girl was gone.
At least, she hoped she was.
Sierra chose a table near the window and sat down, placing her phone beside her.
She checked the time.
4:52 p.m.
She had agreed to meet Alex at five.
Her stomach tightened.
She hated that she was nervous.
This was just a conversation.
Nothing more.
She took a slow breath.
Then the bell above the café door rang.
Sierra looked up.
Alex walked in.
He spotted her almost immediately.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then he walked toward her.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
Alex pulled out the chair opposite her.
“Sorry I'm early.”
Sierra glanced at the clock.
“You're actually five minutes late.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“Then I'm sorry I'm late.”
She almost smiled back.
Almost.
They sat quietly for a few seconds.
The silence wasn't exactly uncomfortable.
It was just unfamiliar.
Three years had created a strange distance between them.
Alex looked at her.
“Thank you for coming.”
Sierra folded her hands on the table.
“You said there were things you wanted to explain.”
“I do.”
“Then explain.”
Alex looked down.
For the first time since she'd seen him again, Sierra noticed something different about him.
He looked nervous.
Alex had always seemed like the kind of person who knew exactly what to say.
Now he seemed to be searching for the right words.
“I've thought about this conversation a lot,” he said.
Sierra raised an eyebrow.
“For three years?”
His eyes lifted to hers.
“Yes.”
That answer caught her off guard.
She looked away.
“Then you should have plenty to say.”
Alex took a breath.
“I know I hurt you.”
Sierra didn't respond.
“You probably think I didn't care about you.”
“I did think that.”
“I know.”
“You made it pretty easy to believe.”
Alex nodded.
“I did.”
Sierra studied him.
“Why?”
He was silent.
She waited.
Finally, he said, “Because I thought it was the only way.”
“The only way to do what?”
“To keep you away from me.”
Sierra frowned.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“I know.”
“No, Alex. It really doesn't.”
He looked at her.
“I didn't want you to get attached to me.”
Sierra gave a small, bitter laugh.
“You were worried I'd get attached to you after I already told you I had feelings for you?”
“I know.”
“You rejected me.”
“I know.”
“You barely explained anything.”
“I know.”
She leaned back.
“Then what exactly are we doing here?”
Alex looked down at the table.
“I'm trying to explain.”
“Then explain.”
Another silence.
Alex finally looked up.
“There was a reason I couldn't be with you.”
Sierra's heart skipped.
She had spent three years wondering about those exact words.
“What reason?”
Alex hesitated.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
He glanced at it.
For the first time, Sierra saw something flash across his face.
Fear.
It disappeared almost immediately.
He silenced the phone.
Sierra noticed.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
“That didn't look like a 'yeah.'”
“It's nothing.”
She frowned.
“You're still doing it.”
“Doing what?”
“Not telling me things.”
Alex didn't answer.
Sierra sighed.
“Maybe I shouldn't have come.”
She reached for her bag.
Alex immediately said, “Wait.”
She stopped.
He looked at her.
“I'll tell you.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
Sierra shook her head.
“That's not good enough.”
“I need a little time.”
“You've had three years.”
His expression tightened.
“I know.”
“Then why do you need more?”
Alex looked at her for a long moment.
“Because I'm scared.”
Sierra wasn't expecting that.
She slowly sat back down.
“Of what?”
Alex didn't answer.
Instead, he said quietly, “I never stopped caring about you.”
Sierra's breath caught.
She stared at him.
Alex looked away.
“I know I don't have the right to say that after what I did.”
Sierra didn't know what to say.
Three years ago, she had wanted those words more than anything.
Now that she was finally hearing them, they didn't make her happy.
They made everything more confusing.
“You shouldn't say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because you're making this harder.”
“I know.”
Sierra looked down at her hands.
“Do you still have feelings for me?”
Alex was silent.
That silence was answer enough.
Sierra looked up.
He didn't deny it.
Neither did she.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Alex's phone vibrated again.
This time, he stood.
“I have to go.”
Sierra looked at him.
“Already?”
“I'm sorry.”
He reached for his jacket.
Before leaving, he looked at her.
“I'll explain everything, Sierra.”
She didn't answer.
Alex walked away.
Sierra watched him disappear through the café doors.
She should have been angry.
Instead, one thought kept repeating in her mind.
What was Alex so afraid of?
And why did she have the feeling that whatever he was hiding had nothing to do with another woman—and everything to do with himself?
