Theo chose the café because it was "neutral territory."
Which is manager language for:
No one throws a piano.
Laura sits straight-backed in the booth.
Axel beside her.
Theo in a chair opposite the table, notebook already open like he's preparing for negotiations with royalty.
And then there's me.
On the outer edge of the booth.
Which I now deeply regret.
Because that means—
The empty space next to me is the only seat left.
Laura checks her watch.
Theo sighs. "He said 3:00."
It's 3:12.
Axel is staring out the window.
He doesn't look annoyed.
He looks… thoughtful.
I lean toward him. "You sure about this?"
Axel shrugs. "He'll show."
Confidence.
Or memory.
The café door opens.
And I know immediately.
Even before I see his face.
Because the energy shifts.
Like someone turned the volume up in the room.
Black jacket.
Red streaks catching the light.
Sunglasses still on indoors.
He stops just inside the entrance and scans the room.
Like he's measuring it.
Like he's measuring us.
Then he spots Axel.
And grins.
There's no hesitation in the way he crosses the café.
No apology in his stride.
He slides the sunglasses down just enough to reveal sharp, amused eyes.
"Fashionably late," he says smoothly.
Theo does not look amused.
Laura's expression is calm but cool. "Late is late."
Zane smiles like he's just been complimented.
Axel stands.
And for a split second—
I see it.
High school.
Old stages.
Shared noise.
They clasp hands.
Then pull into a half-hug that looks almost accidental.
"Been a while," Zane says.
"Yeah," Axel replies quietly.
There's something unspoken there.
History.
And then—
Zane turns.
And really looks at the rest of us.
Theo first.
Evaluates.
Professional nod.
Laura next.
His expression shifts slightly.
Respect.
"You're the backbone," he says casually.
Laura doesn't smile.
But she doesn't correct him.
Then—
His eyes land on me.
And pause.
Not long.
But long enough.
Axel said he was in a trio with two women.
He did not mention—
That one of them looks like she radiates warmth.
Zane tilts his head slightly.
"And you are?"
My brain has stopped functioning.
My mouth, however, does not.
"Sunny."
Good.
Solid.
Short.
Manageable.
He smirks slightly.
"Sunny."
He tests the word.
Then—
"Well, that tracks."
I blink. "Tracks?"
He gestures vaguely toward me. "You look like sunshine."
My heart forgets how to beat.
Axel uses that nickname.
Amelia uses that nickname.
No one else.
Ever.
My brain is on fire.
I laugh awkwardly. "It's just my name."
He slides into the booth.
Next to me.
Of course he does.
Too close.
My nervous system goes into full emergency mode.
He smells like something sharp and clean.
Leather and something warm.
"Relax," he murmurs lightly. "I don't bite."
I was not visibly tense.
Was I visibly tense?
Axel notices.
I can feel it.
He sits back down slowly, eyes flicking between us.
Cautious.
Not hostile.
Just… watching.
Laura folds her hands. "We're here to discuss collaboration, not charm."
Zane looks amused.
"Can't it be both?"
Theo clears his throat loudly.
Zane finally leans forward, elbows on the table.
Professional mode.
"You need a fourth presence," he says easily. "I need a new direction."
Axel nods slightly.
Laura studies him. "And why us?"
He doesn't hesitate.
"Because you're stable."
It's not an insult.
It's observation.
"You've built something steady," he continues. "That's rare."
His eyes flick briefly toward me again.
"And steady things can afford to take risks."
My pulse spikes.
He doesn't know how loud my heartbeat is right now.
He doesn't know that sitting this close to someone who moves like he owns the air is slightly terrifying.
Laura taps her fingers once against the table.
"What do you contribute?" she asks calmly.
Zane leans back.
Confidence.
Presence.
Momentum.
"I don't disappear on stage," he says simply.
The words land heavier than they should.
I swallow.
Axel glances at me.
Just for a second.
And I know.
He felt that too.
Not as an attack.
But as contrast.
The meeting continues.
Numbers.
Schedules.
Concept ideas.
But I barely register it.
Because every time Zane laughs,
the air shifts.
And every time he casually calls me "sunshine" in passing—
My brain short circuits all over again.
When the meeting wraps up, he stands smoothly.
"Well," he says, pushing his sunglasses back up. "This could be interesting."
Laura nods politely.
Theo already looks tired.
Axel gives him a look that's half warning, half welcome.
And as Zane turns to leave, he glances back once more.
At me.
"See you around, sunshine."
And this time—
I don't look away.
I just don't know what to do with the way my heart reacts.
—
As the café door closes behind him, Axel exhales slowly.
Laura picks up her tea.
Theo mutters something about contracts.
And I stare at the empty doorway.
Overwhelmed.
Curious.
A little annoyed.
Very intimidated.
And, unfortunately—
A little excited.