Page 17 of Worth the Fall

"Good to know." He steps closer, and for a moment I think he might kiss me. Instead, he reaches out and gently brushes something from my shoulder. "Though I should warn you, the glitter tends to spread."

I look down and sure enough, there's a sparkly dusting on my shoulder. "I can think of worse things," I say, meeting his eyes.

His smile softens. "Me too. And just so you know, I'm free for any future legal mattress consultations. Especially if they involve coffee."

I'm smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. "I'll keep that in mind. Though I should warn you, my autocorrect is still a liability."

"I'm willing to take that risk if you are."

Miguel opens the door of the Uber for me, his hand lightly brushing my elbow as he steadies me. “Let me know when you get home, okay?” he says, his voice soft but firm, like he’s back in lawyer mode but can’t quite help being a gentleman.

I nod, my chest warm from how much care he’s putting into this small moment. “I will. Thanks again for the coffee. And, you know… for your onion.”

His grin is quick and boyish, making me wish I’d said something less ridiculous. “Anytime. Have a safe ride, Mia.”

As I slide into the seat, he closes the door behind me with a quick wave. For the first time in months, the flutter in my chest feels like possibility rather than panic.

The driver pulls away slowly, and I glance over my shoulder, unable to resist one last look. Miguel is heading toward his car, his long strides relaxed and confident, his sleeves still rolled up like he doesn’t care that there’s a little nip in the air.

That’s when I see her.

She steps into view from the far side of the parking lot, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement. She’s tall, with sleek platinum hair cascading down her back, the kind of woman who looks like she belongs on the cover of a luxury lifestyle magazine.

My stomach clenches as I watch her approach him. She lifts a hand, calling his name—or at least, I think she does. Miguel stops and turns toward her, his posture shifting slightly as if her presence is familiar.

They exchange a few words I can’t hear, and then she reaches out, lightly touching his arm. He doesn’t pull away. Instead, he leans closer, his expression softening in a way I hadn’t seen even when we were joking in the coffee shop.

“Everything okay back there?” the driver asks, glancing at me through the rearview mirror as I crane my neck and press my face against the glass trying to get another look at them.

“Yeah,” I say quickly, sitting back and forcing myself to look away. “Totally fine, just thought I saw Taylor Swift,” I laugh, trying to play it off.

But it’s not fine.

As the car merges into traffic, my eyes keep flicking back toward the rear window, even though I can’t see him anymore.

Who is she? A client? A friend? Someone he forgot to mention?

My phone buzzes in my lap.

Becca

How was coffee? Is he as dreamy as you thought he’d be?

I stare at the message, the giddy feeling I’d had just minutes ago now replaced with a knot in my chest. I try to shake the thought, reminding myself that he and I aren’t in a relationship…we aren’t even really friends.

Me

Yeah, it was nice. He’s… complicated.

I hit send and drop my phone into my bag, leaning my head against the window as the city blurs past. For all the warmth Miguel made me feel earlier, I can’t shake the image of that woman—the ease of her laugh, the way he didn’t seem to mind her touch.

Maybe my doubts are right. Maybe I’m not ready for this after all…or maybe he’s not.

I set my phone aside, forcing myself to keep smiling. Because even if it’s complicated, even if I’m not ready for something serious—there will definitely be a next time.

I try letting myself feel the flutter of possibility, the excitement of something new. And if that something newhappens to come with a sprinkling of glitter, drama and the world's most adorable autocorrect fails?

Well, maybe that's exactly how it should be.

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