Chapter 235: Soap Opera
Abby sat at the corner table of the little café, her fingers curled around the warm ceramic mug. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of baked goods, creating a comforting backdrop to an otherwise tense moment. Her sunglasses, oversized and dark, obscured her eyes, masking whatever thoughts might be flickering behind them.
Cage sat at the seat across from her, his movements deliberate and slow. He studied her face, searching for any clue to her inner turmoil. But Abby remained an enigma , her expression as inscrutable as the depths of a calm sea.
"So, you’re sleeping with Lily?" she asked, her voice so devoid of emotion that it sent a chill down Cage’s spine. It was a statement, not a question, and it hung in the air between them like a heavy fog.
Cage took a deep breath, his mind racing. He had known this moment was coming, but the reality of it was something he hadn’t fully prepared for. He had rehearsed explanations, justifications, but now, sitting across from Abby, none of them seemed adequate.
"Abby, it’s not what you think," he began, his voice wavering slightly. He saw no change in her demeanor, no hint of anger or sorrow. It was as if she were simply waiting for a bus, not confronting a friend about his indiscretions.
"What is it then, Cage?" she replied, her tone still flat. "Because from where I’m sitting, it seems pretty clear."
Cage’s mind scrambled for the right words. "Lily and I... it just happened. I didn’t plan it, I didn’t mean for it to get this far. But Abby, it doesn’t change how I feel about you."
Abby took another sip of her coffee, her face still a mask. "How you feel about me," she repeated, as if testing the words for the first time. "And how is that, Cage? How do you feel about me?"
Cage leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "I care about you, Abby. I always have. What happened with Lily... it was a mistake. A stupid, meaningless mistake."