Charles kicked himself the whole way home. He should have known better than to try to reconnect with Becca. She didn’t need him in her life. She was obviously doing well on her own. She had people who cared for her. She would be fine without him. Probably better off.

Charles hated to admit that, but he knew it was the truth. Becca had always been strong. She’d been strong enough to stand up to him more times than he could count, especially the day she threw him out of her life. He hated that she did it, but he respected the hell out of her for being willing to push him aside for the sake of her family.

His stomach growled loudly and Charles remembered he hadn’t eaten breakfast. He was so wrapped up in Becca that he completely forgot he was going to the diner for breakfast. He couldn’t go back there, but he needed to do something, and sitting in his apartment feeling sorry for himself was not going to cut it.

He slung his bag back over his shoulder and headed out again. Maybe he could find a Starbucks or something like that. He knew as long as he kept buying stuff he wouldn’t feel bad stealing a table for the day. There was a Starbucks close to his apartment, one he’d never been to, and he decided to give it a try.

The cold air stung his face when Charles stepped back outside. He wished he was in the diner, talking to Becca, but he couldn’t go back. His pride wouldn’t take it and neither would his heart. He’d have to forget her again, move on with his life. Let her enjoy hers.

Inside the Starbucks Charles ordered a coffee and a muffin. He took a seat by the window so he’d have natural light for the day and set up his laptop. He sipped his coffee and devoured his muffin, trying to focus on work. But all he could think about was Becca. She was in the face of the woman on the street, looking around like she’d lost something. She was in the sway of the hips on the barista. She was in the sound of light laughter trickling through to his ear.

He was going insane.

The woman on the street looked up at the sky. She raised her hands as though she was asking someone up there for something. Charles watched her, mesmerized by the similarities to Becca. His mind was really doing a number on him. Then she turned and looked straight at him. Her lips curled up into a grin and she went for the door. She was standing in front of his table before he realized he wasn’t completely insane. It really was Becca.