Chapter19
Shadows of The Past.
The grocery store was buzzing with the usual sounds of carts rattling over tiles and quiet chatter among shoppers. Sophie moved through the aisles in a haze, grabbing items with little thought. Her mind wasn’t on dinner or her to–do list–It was on Jason. Every little interaction, every smile or late–night excuse, looped in her brain like a broken record. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice the tall figure in front of her until it was too late.
Crash. Her cart bumped against someone’s legs, knocking a carton of milk to the floor. Sophie gasped, dropping her list as she rushed to pick it up.
“Sorry, I didn’t-” She froze, her words stuck in her throat as she looked up.
Ryan Miller.
Her ex–lover. The man who had once been her whole world, now standing before her like some twisted reminder of all the things that had unraveled in her life.
“Sophie?” Ryan’s voice was soft, as if he couldn’t believe she was real. His eyes, those same warm hazel ones she used to get lost in, widened in surprise. “It’s been a while.”
Her heart pounded in her chest, the familiar sensation of his presence overwhelming her. She hadn’t seen him since the day they’d said goodbye–years ago now, but the memory felt fresh, like an old scar that hadn’t quite healed. They had loved fiercely, but distance had been their undoing. He’d moved overseas to expand his business, and she wasn’t the kind of person who could hold
onto something that felt so far away. So, they let go.
But now, here he was, as if time had folded in on itself, bringing him back when she least expected
IL
“Ryan,” Sophie breathed, trying to find her voice. “I… I didn’t expect to see you.”
Ryan smiled, his usual calm and confident demeanor settling in. “Neither did I. But hey, fate, right?”
Fate. It felt more like a cruel joke at this point. Sophie forced a smile, feeling awkward and out of place. They both stood there for a moment, neither one sure of what to say. Finally, Ryan broke the
silence.
“Let me help you with that,” he said, reaching down to pick up the milk carton and her crumpled
grocery list.
“Thanks.” Sophie cleared her throat. “I was just, um, grabbing a few things for dinner.”
t
Ryan nodded, his eyes scanning her face as if he were searching for something. “How about a coffee? After you’re done shopping? We could catch up. It’s been a longtime.”
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Sophie hesitated, but before she could think of a reason to say no, she heard herself agreeing
“Sure. Coffee sounds good.”
Later, at the coffee shop, Sophie sat across from Ryan, her hands wrapped around the warmth of
her cup. The café was quiet, the kind of place where people came to unwind and disconnect. Yet Sophie felt more connected to her past than she had in years. Ryan sat back, casual as ever, as if the time apart hadn’t been years but mere days.
“So,” he began, his voice pulling her from her wandering thoughts. “Tell me everything. What’s been going on in your life, Soph?”
Soph. The nickname sent a pang of nostalgia through her. She hadn’t heard it in so long, and coming from him, it felt intimate, like he still knew her.
“I’m…. fine,” she said, forcing a smile. “Same old, I guess. Work, life…”
Ryan raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Fine? That doesn’t sound like you.”
She laughed softly, trying to brush it off. “You know how it is. Life happens.”
“And you?” Sophie redirected, hoping to shift the focus away from her. “What brings you back?”
Ryan leaned in slightly, his expression softening. “I’m back for good, actually. I’ve been working on building a new business here. Figured it was time to settle down, get rooted again.”
Back for good. His words settled uneasily in her chest. The irony wasn’t lost on her. Once, she had begged him to stay. Now, years later, when everything had changed, he was here–and she was the
one who felt lost.
They talked about the usual things–work, friends, the years that had passed. But Sophie wasn’t really present. Her mind drifted, spinning between memories of Ryan and the complications of her life now with Jason. Ryan noticed, of course. He always had a way of reading her, even when she
didn’t want to be read.
“Soph,” he said, his voice gentle but probing. “Are you okay? You seem… distant.”
She blinked, trying to pull herself together, but Ryan’s eyes were too knowing, too familiar. He had always been able to see right through her.
“I’m fine,” she said quickly. Too quickly.
Ryan leaned forward, concern etched across his face. “You and I both know that’s a lie. What’s going on? You can tell me. I’m not the same guy who left, you know. I’m here now. If you need anything.”
Sophie swallowed hard, fighting the urge to spill everything. But what could she say? That she suspected Jason of cheating? That her life was unraveling at the seams? No, she couldn’t go there. Not yet.
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“Maybe… maybe someday,” she said softly, her eyes avoiding his. “Someday, I might need your help.”
Ryan nodded, his gaze steady. “Whenever you’re ready. I’ll be here. You know that, right?”
There was a quiet intensity in his words, an unspoken promise that he would always have her back. Just like before. And for the first time in a long time, Sophie felt a glimmer of something—maybe hope, maybe safety. Whatever it was, it felt like a lifeline she wasn’t ready to grab just yet.
But she would. Someday.
Ryan smiled gently. “Like a shadow, Soph. I’ll be right there, watching your back.”
Sophie gave him a small, appreciative smile, but inside, her emotions were a tangled mess. She wasn’t ready to face the truth about Jason–or about her own heart. But having Ryan back, even as an ally in the background, gave her a strange sense of comfort.
And right now, that was enough.
