MARIA POV
The week passed in a fog of routine. Mornings started with me trudging to the café, where I’d throw on my apron, slap on a smile, and get through the shifts with James, who was practically radiating resentment. His sarcastic comments and cold stares were a far cry from the flirtatious, easygoing guy I thought I knew. And every time he threw me a snide remark, I couldn’t help but feel a twist of regret. Maybe I had been naive, thinking he’d be fine with just a fling, no strings attached.
But no amount of his sulking could dull the warmth I felt whenever I thought of Dax and Henry. Each day, my mind drifted back to them, to those moments we’d shared—moments that left me aching for more.
After work, I'd head to the pool, the only place I could clear my head, with the smell of ch
