The Road to Us

rself looking forward to every moment spent with Max, even when they weren't making grand plans or having deep talks

. It wasn't unusual for him to be late-he'd always been easygoing about time-but today, there was a subtle shift in the air. S

finger on it, but her stomach churned with an odd sense of unease. Maybe it was just because they hadn't seen eac

the door chimed, and she looked

serious than usual. He was talking to a woman, one Emma didn't recognize. The woman was

ridiculous. Max wasn't hers, and she had no claim over him. They w

ir across from her. "This is Rachel. She's a

he sudden wave of discomfort she felt

h friendliness. "It's great to meet yo

an eyebrow.

ight have mentioned you a few times," he said with

they had always shared seemed a little... different now. Maybe it was just the unexpected arrival of a t

id. But Emma noticed that Max seemed a little distracted, more focused on Rachel than o

seemed perfectly a

ing in confusion. She told herself to relax, to enjoy the company. But every time she look

thoughts. "Rachel and I are heading to a new ar

r little friendship had turned into? A group hangout? She couldn't quite figure ou

replied, forcing a smile. "I've

ut Rachel quic

m smile. "We'll catch up another time. But

a moment, looking at Emma with a hin

be fine. You two go ahe

a faint tension in his expres

ouched coffee. She had a lot of mixed feelings swirling inside her

x hadn't been the same since Rachel had arrived, and Emma couldn't help but wonder if she had been reading

n, one thing became clear: she wasn't ready to just let this go. Whatever