Melanie

I shift nervously from foot to foot, my eyes darting anxiously around the busy street. Evie stands beside me, her arms crossed as she scans the passing crowd. We're waiting for Jason outside the café where I'm supposed to meet Daniel, and I can't help but feel a knot of anxiety twisting in my stomach. I check my watch for the umpteenth time, hoping that Jason won't be late.

"He better not be late," I mutter under my breath, my anxiety bubbling to the surface.

Evie raises an eyebrow at me. "Who?" she asks, her tone tinged with amusement.

"Jason," I reply tersely, my eyes still glued to the door.

"Oh, Jason," Evie says with a nod, her lips quirking into a sly grin. "Is he hot?"

I roll my eyes at her predictable question. "Really, Evie?" I scoff. "That's all you care about?"

Evie shrugs nonchalantly. "Hey, a girl's gotta have some priorities," she retorts playfully.

I can't help but chuckle at her response. "You're hopeless," I tease, shaking my head in mock exasperation.

"But seriously, have you met him?" Evie asks, her curiosity getting the better of her.

I shake my head. "No, but I've heard of him," I admit, my mind flashing back to Marcus's brief mention of Jason.

Evie's brow furrows in confusion. "How come you haven't met him?" she inquires, her tone puzzled.

I shrug, feeling a twinge of discomfort at the mention of Marcus. "I guess Marcus always referred to him as just a colleague," I explain, my voice tinged with sadness. "I suppose they've gotten closer since Adam left."

Evie lets out an exasperated sigh. "So, we still don't know if Jason is hot," she laments, her frustration evident in her tone.

"We'll find out soon enough," I reassure her, trying to sound more confident than I feel.

"I hope so," Evie says, her impatience palpable. "I'm spending my whole afternoon with him; he better be worth it."

I chuckle at her enthusiasm. "Marcus just said he's good-looking," I offer, trying to ease her worries.

Evie sighs dramatically. "Good-looking? What does that even mean?" she complains, her frustration mounting.

I raise an eyebrow, unable to suppress a smirk. "In men-talk, I'm pretty sure that translates to hot," I quip, earning a chuckle from Evie.

Evie rolls her eyes at me. "I hope so," she says earnestly, her tone tinged with uncertainty.

A voice behind us interrupts our conversation, laughing lightly. "Well, I hope I don't disappoint," it says teasingly.

Startled, Evie and I both turn around to see a tall man with broad shoulders, dirty-blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes standing before us. My heart skips a beat as I realize it must be Jason.

"Jason, I presume?" I venture, trying to mask my surprise.

The stranger nods, a cocky grin playing on his lips. "In the flesh," he confirms, his voice smooth and confident.

I extend my hand towards him, mustering a smile. "Nice to meet you, Jason. I'm Melanie, and this is Evie."

Evie doesn't say a word, but her goofy grin speaks volumes as she unabashedly rakes her eyes all over Jason's form.

"Nice to meet you, ladies," Jason replies, his tone flirtatious as he returns my handshake.

Then, with a dramatic flourish, he opens his arms wide and turns around himself, gesturing to Evie. "So, am I hot enough?" he asks playfully.

Evie's grin widens, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Definitely," she replies without missing a beat.

They share a knowing grin, leaving me to roll my eyes at their antics. "Okay, you two," I interject, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "Let's head inside and find some tables to sit."

We step into the cozy warmth of the café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloping us. I scan the room, my eyes landing on a table by the window and another a few tables away. I turn to Evie and point towards them.

"I'll sit at the table by the window," I tell her quietly. "You and Jason can take the other one."

Evie nods in agreement, her smile brightening. She and Jason begin to make their way towards the table I indicated, their laughter mingling with the chatter of other patrons.

I head towards the table by the window and take a seat, my heart fluttering with nervous anticipation. I glance at my watch, noting the time. Daniel should be here soon.

As I wait, I steal a glance towards Evie and Jason. They're both looking at me, their smiles warm and reassuring. I smile back at them, grateful for their presence.

Turning my gaze towards the door, I try to calm the jumble of thoughts racing through my mind. But before I can gather my thoughts, the waitress approaches to take my order. I barely register her presence, my mind preoccupied with the impending meeting.

When she returns with a cappuccino, I'm surprised to see it sitting in front of me. I must have ordered it without even realizing it. I shake my head, trying to shake off the haze of anxiety that clouds my mind.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. I have to get it together. Daniel will be here soon, and I need to be calm and centered. I take a deep breath, willing myself to calm the rapid fluttering of my heart. Moments later, Daniel stands before me, a sickeningly sweet smile gracing his lips.

"Melanie," he says softly, his voice dripping with affection. "I've missed you."

I offer him a tight-lipped smile, trying to keep my composure. As he leans in to kiss me on the lips, I instinctively turn my head, and his lips land on my cheek instead. I can feel his hurt gaze boring into me, but I refuse to meet it.

Instead, I gesture for him to sit across from me, my eyes darting towards Evie and Jason. Evie looks worried, her brow furrowed in concern, while Jason's expression is tinged with anger, his jaw clenched tightly.

Turning my attention back to Daniel, who is now seated across from me, I shift uncomfortably in my seat.  "Daniel," I begin hesitantly, my voice wavering slightly. "The reason I asked to see you is because I need to make sure that you won't be calling me anymore in the middle of the night."

Daniel's pained expression is palpable as he looks down, his gaze fixed on his hands clasped tightly together in his lap. "I'm sorry about that," he murmurs softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"It's okay, Daniel," I say gently, trying to soften the blow. "But you need to realize that I need some time away from you. I need space to clear my head and get myself together."

Daniel looks at me, tears welling up in his eyes. "Then why did you ask to see me?" he whispers, his voice choked with emotion. "You could have just texted me that."

I meet his gaze, feeling a pang of guilt tug at my heart. "I felt like I had to do this in person," I explain softly.

Daniel shakes his head, a tear rolling down his cheek. I reach out and take his hand in mine, squeezing it gently. "Daniel, please don't cry," I plead, my own heart aching at the sight of his pain. "I just want to talk. I don't want to hurt you."

Daniel wipes away a tear with the back of his hand, his shoulders trembling with emotion. "I'm getting hurt just seeing you," he admits, his voice breaking. "Not being able to touch you or kiss you...it's tearing me apart."

I swallow hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. Pulling my hand away, I sigh and look out the window, searching for a solution. When I turn back to Daniel, a plan forms in my mind.

"Do you want to take a moment and go to the bathroom?" I suggest gently. "Splash some water on your face, collect yourself."

Daniel nods, his expression grateful. "Yes, that's a good idea," he agrees, standing up slowly. "I'll need a moment to gather myself."

I try to suppress a smile, maintaining a serious demeanor as Daniel walks away towards the bathroom. Once he's out of sight, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

As soon as Daniel disappears into the bathroom, I seize the opportunity. Without wasting a moment, I reach into his pocket and fish out his phone. My heart races as I try to unlock it, but my hopes deflate when I realize it's password protected.

I glance at Evie, who's watching me intently, her eyes wide with anticipation. She mouths, "What?" and I reply silently, "Password." Her response is a simple, "Fuck."

Turning back to the phone, I rack my brain for a solution. I tilt the screen, searching for any clues, and notice smudges on the most used numbers: 3, 1, 4, and 0.

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and pray for luck. With trembling fingers, I punch in 3041. My heart sinks as the screen flashes "Wrong password."

I try again, this time entering 3140. Another rejection. My pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out all other sound.

On my third attempt, I enter 0314. The screen flickers, and to my relief, it unlocks. A surge of triumph courses through me as I quickly navigate to Daniel's contacts.

Locating the entry named Jessica, I copy the number into my phone, feeling a sense of urgency driving me forward. With a final glance at Daniel's phone, I slip it back into his pocket and lean back in my seat.

I give Evie a subtle thumbs up, and she exhales audibly, her hand pressed against her heart in relief. Jason offers me a reassuring smile, and I return it with a grateful one of my own. But my attention is quickly drawn to the bathroom door, which swings open a few moments later, revealing Daniel's return.