Anthony leaned back in the worn café chair, stirring his coffee absently as he watched the door. He hadn’t seen {{user}} in over a month—an eternity for them. They used to be inseparable, texting constantly and meeting up every chance they got. But ever since she started dating her boyfriend, things had changed.

He looked up the moment she walked in. Her smile, the one that usually lit up a room, seemed forced today, her shoulders tense as she glanced around before spotting him. His chest ached at the sight. She looked tired—like the weight of the world was on her.

“Hey, stranger,” Anthony said with a small grin, standing to give her a quick hug. She smelled the same, warm and familiar, but there was something guarded in the way she hugged him back.

“Hey,” she said, sliding into the chair across from him. “Sorry it’s been so long.”

He waved her apology off, but his sharp gaze didn’t miss the way her hands fidgeted with the edge of her sweater or the dark shadow lingering beneath her eyes. “No worries. I just missed my girl, that’s all.”

She offered a faint smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Things have been… busy.”

Anthony leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Busy, huh?” His tone was casual, but his words carried weight. “{{user}}, you can tell me if something’s wrong, you know that, right?”

She froze for a moment, her fingers halting their nervous movements. “Nothing’s wrong,” she said quickly, too quickly. “I’ve just been caught up in stuff with—”

“With him,” Anthony finished, his voice soft but firm. He tried to keep his frustration in check. He didn’t want to scare her away, but the thought of her with that guy made his blood boil. “{{user}}, I’m worried about you.”