I almost didn't go.
I stood in front of my wardrobe longer than necessary, changing shirts that all felt wrong. Too casual. Too intentional. Too much like I was trying.
My phone buzzed.
Liam: We're already here. Take your time.
We.
I exhaled and grabbed my bag.
The café was warm, busy in that quiet way — low music, soft chatter, the clink of cups. I spotted them immediately.
Liam was leaning forward, elbows on the table, smiling.
At her. Claire.
She was laughing at something he said, head tilted, hair tucked behind her ear like it was a habit. Like she'd done it before. Like she belonged in that moment.
Liam saw me first. His face lit up.
"Ava!" He stood, waving a little too eagerly. "Over here."
Claire turned. Our eyes met.
She smiled first.
"Hi," she said, standing as well. "You must be Ava."
I nodded. "You must be Claire."
Her smile widened. "Finally. I feel like I already know you."
That made my chest tighten, but I laughed lightly. "I've heard that a lot today."
Liam grinned. "Told you."
We sat.Liam in the middle.
That was new.
"So," Claire said, wrapping her hands around her cup, "Liam says you've known each other forever."
"Unfortunately," I said.
He scoffed. "She's lying. She'd be lost without me."
"Please," I shot back. "You still can't find your socks without calling me."
Claire laughed again. "He does that. Calls people for the smallest things."
"He calls me," I said before I could stop myself.
The table went quiet for half a second.
Liam cleared his throat. "I mean— yeah. Habit."
Claire nodded slowly, still smiling. "That's kind of sweet."
Sweet.
The conversation moved on — work, traffic, the weather. Normal things. Safe things.
But every now and then, Claire would glance at me.
Not sharply. Not suspiciously.
Just… curious.
"So how did you two meet?" she asked.
Liam opened his mouth.
"We were kids," I said instead. "Same street. Same school. Same everything."
"Wow," she said. "That's rare."
"It is," Liam agreed. "She's stuck with me."
Claire smiled at him. "You're lucky."
Something about the way she said it made my stomach twist.
Liam's phone buzzed. He checked it quickly, frowned. "I need to take this."
He stood and walked a few steps away.
Claire watched him go, then turned to me.
"He talks about you a lot," she said.
I forced a small smile. "Does he?"
"Yeah. You're always 'Ava this' and 'Ava would know.'" She laughed softly.
"Sometimes I think he trusts you more than Google."
I swallowed. "I've known him longer."
"I know," she said gently. "And I respect that."
That word again. Respect.
"I hope this isn't weird for you," she added. "Meeting me, I mean."
"It's not," I lied. "Why would it be?"
She studied my face, just for a moment. "Because you matter to him."
Before I could answer, Liam came back.
"Sorry about that," he said, sitting down — closer to her this time. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," Claire said easily. "We were just talking about you."
"Oh?" He looked between us. "Should I be scared?"
"Always," I said.
He laughed.
But his knee brushed hers under the table, and he didn't move it away.
I noticed. I always noticed.
When we stood to leave, Liam reached out automatically — and then hesitated.
His hand dropped.
"I'll text you," he said instead.
I nodded. "Yeah."
Claire hugged me.
It was quick. Warm.
"Really nice meeting you," she said.
"You too," I replied, and meant it.
On the way home, my phone buzzed.
Liam: You were quiet today. Did I do something?
I stared at the screen, heart thudding.
So close..So late.
Me: No. I'm fine. Just tired.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
I locked my phone and leaned my head against the window.
Tonight, I finally saw it clearly.
Claire wasn't the problem.
I was.
And the scariest part?
I didn't know how long Liam had already started choosing her — or how long before I wouldn't be part of the choice at all.