Tense
1506 Words
May’s phone buzzed again, and she groaned softly. “Ugh, work,” she muttered, standing up. “I’ll just take this outside again.”
She gave them both a small smile, then walked off, leaving Lucian and Georgia alone again.
The silence returned, heavier this time. The sound of cutlery and quiet chatter from nearby tables only made it worse.
Lucian leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “You really don’t look well,” he said quietly.
Georgia’s lips curved into a faint, polite smile. “I’m fine.”
He shook his head slowly. “You’re not.”
Her eyes flicked to him, sharp for a second, then softened. “Lucian,” she said gently, “you don’t have to do this.”
He frowned. “Do what?”
“This,” she said, waving her hand lightly between them. “Checking in, worrying, apologizing. You don’t have to fix everything. Sometimes things just… happen.”
Lucian looked down at his hands, fingers tightening around the edge of the table. “But I want to fix it,” he said under his breath.
Her gaze softened. “I know,” she said, her tone quiet but steady. “That’s just who you are.”
He lifted his head, meeting her eyes. “Then let me be that, at least.”
Georgia let out a slow breath and leaned back in her chair. “You already came here,” she said softly. “That’s enough.”
Lucian stared at her, his jaw clenching slightly. “You think showing up is enough for me?”
She looked away, her fingers playing with her straw again. “It should be.”
He sighed, sitting back. The air between them felt thick, too full of things they weren’t saying. He could see the tiredness in her face, the way her shoulders sagged a little as if she’d been holding too much for too long.
“Are you going to stay here long?” he asked quietly.
“Maybe,” she said, giving a small shrug. “May’s been asking me to hang out more. I think I’ll stay with her for a while.”
Lucian nodded, even though it made something twist in his chest. “Alright.”
She looked at him, puzzled. “Alright?”
He nodded again. “Yeah. If that’s what you need.”
Her eyes searched his face for a second, then she looked away again. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Lucian’s throat felt dry. He wanted to tell her that wasn’t what he needed, that he needed her to look at him the way she used to, to stop building walls between them. But instead, he said, “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Georgia blinked and turned to him. “Lucian, you don’t have to.”
He gave a small shrug, forcing a calm smile. “I insist.”
“Why?” she asked softly. “You’ve already done what you came to do. You’ve said what you needed to say.”
“Because I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I am okay,” she said, her voice steady but her eyes betraying her. “You don’t have to keep waiting for me, Lucian. I’ll probably stay here till evening anyway.”
He frowned, his hands curling on his lap. “Evening?”
“Yes.” She tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “So, don’t wait. Go back to work.”
He stared at her for a moment, wanting to say more, to tell her she was lying, that she wasn’t okay, that he could still see the sadness hiding under her calm. But he didn’t.
He swallowed the words, letting silence take their place.
Finally, he nodded once, his expression unreadable. “Alright,” he said quietly.
Her eyes flickered, almost as if she was surprised he gave in that easily.
Lucian stood slowly, pushing the chair back with a soft scrape. “Take care of yourself, Georgia.”
“I will,” she said softly.
He nodded again, though he didn’t believe it. “Tell May I said bye.”
“I will.”
Lucian gave her one last look, a quiet one, full of everything he couldn’t say, then turned and walked toward the door.
The cool air from outside brushed against his face as he stepped out. He paused by his car, looking back through the glass wall. Inside, Georgia was still sitting there, head down, lost in thought.
He clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to go back. But instead, he opened the car door and got in, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
For a long time, he didn’t start the engine. He just sat there, staring ahead, hearing her voice echo in his head, You don’t have to keep waiting for me.
He finally exhaled, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah,” he murmured to himself, “but I still will.”
***
May walked back to the table a few minutes later, slipping her phone into her purse. “Sorry about that,” she said, letting out a sigh as she sat down. “Work never lets me breathe.”
Georgia gave her a small smile. “It’s fine.”
May leaned forward a little, resting her arms on the table. “So…” she began carefully, “what happened just now? You and Lucian looked… tense.”
Georgia’s eyes flicked toward the door for a second before she looked down at her glass. “It’s nothing.”
May raised an eyebrow. “Georgia.”
Georgia sighed and leaned back in her chair. “It’s really nothing, May.”
“Come on,” May said softly, tilting her head. “I’ve known you long enough to know when you’re lying. You were quiet the whole time he was here, and he looked like someone carrying a storm in his chest. What’s going on?”
Georgia was quiet for a few seconds. Her fingers played with the edge of her napkin, folding it, unfolding it. “He didn’t call me,” she said finally, her voice low.
May blinked. “Didn’t call you?”
Georgia nodded. “For days. Not even a text. I thought something was wrong, so I went to his house last night.”
May’s brows lifted slightly. “And?”
Georgia’s lips pressed together, and she hesitated before continuing. “I saw a girl there.”
May’s expression changed instantly. “A girl?”
Georgia nodded again, her throat tight. “She was wearing his shirt, May.” Her voice cracked a little. “I didn’t even wait to ask. I just left.”
May’s eyes softened, her expression full of concern. “Oh, Georgia…”
“I know how it sounds,” Georgia said quickly, her words tumbling out. “But it wasn’t just that. When I called him later, we kinda fought. He said things… cold things. I hung up. He tried calling after, but I couldn’t bring myself to pick up.”
May reached across the table and placed her hand gently over Georgia’s. “And today, he came here to talk?”
Georgia nodded slowly. “He said he was sorry. Said he didn’t mean what he said. But, May…” She looked up, her eyes shining faintly. “He didn’t mention the girl. Not once. Like it never happened.”
May squeezed her hand gently. “Maybe there’s more to it, Georgia. You know Lucian. He wouldn’t just do something like that.”
Georgia let out a tired laugh. “That’s what I keep telling myself.”
“Then believe it,” May said softly. “Lucian cares about you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, like you’re the only thing that makes sense to him. You think he’d throw that away for some random girl?”
Georgia sighed, her voice trembling just a little. “I trust him, May. I really do. But right now, I just feel… confused. Nothing adds up anymore.”
May gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Then maybe don’t try to figure it all out today. Give him time. And give yourself time, too. Love’s messy, Georgia. Sometimes it hurts before it makes sense again.”
Georgia looked down, blinking back the sting in her eyes. “I hope you’re right.”
May’s thumb brushed over the back of her hand gently. “I usually am,” she said with a small grin.
That made Georgia smile faintly, even if it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thanks, May.”
“Always,” May said, giving her hand one last squeeze. “And hey, next time, if you’re going to storm into someone’s house, call me first. I’ll bring popcorn.”
Georgia let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”
“Maybe,” May said, smiling. “But I’ve got your back.”
Georgia nodded, her chest heavy but a little lighter than before.
- Writer
