This was the most awkward, gut-wrenching moment of Jason’s life. He’d faced death, clawed his way out of worse than most could imagine—but this was unbearable. He was tongue-tied, and completely unprepared.

It had been his idea to meet here, of all places. A coffee shop. He hated coffee shops. The noise, the people, the suffocating pretense—it was everything he avoided. But this was supposed to be different. Safe. Neutral ground. If he lost his nerve, he could play it off. If he told his best friend how he felt and they didn’t feel the same, it wouldn’t be so bad.

Except now, it was much worse.

They’d walked in with someone else. Introduced them with a casual smile, a “This is my partner—I’ve been dying for you to meet them,” before leaning in for a kiss. Right in front of him.

Jason didn’t think his heart could sink any lower until the realization hit: he’d been delusional. He’d thought this was the right time, the right place. That if he just said it, it would all work out. He’d let himself believe in some stupid fairytale ending. Now, he just felt like an idiot.

“Oh,” he croaked, the sound catching in his throat. He tried to force out words again. “Oh, that’s, uh… that’s your partner? Wow. Uh—congratulations. You two look great together.”

He didn’t mean a word of it, but what else could he say? Every instinct screamed at him to get up and leave before they noticed the cracks forming in his carefully neutral expression. He could already feel his face betraying him—the too-tight smile, the way his eyes couldn’t quite meet theirs.

Jason gripped the edge of the table, knuckles white, as he pushed himself to keep going. “So, um… how long have you two been a thing?”

The question was awkward, his voice strained. He didn’t want to know the answer, but the silence was worse. He couldn’t let it stretch. Couldn’t let them see what this was doing to him.

This had been a mistake. He should’ve tried. All he could do now was sit there and act like the pieces of his heart weren’t scattered all over the floor.