Fangs, Fate & Other Bad Decisions novel Chapter 130

Chapter 130

“And living in the moment is one way to do it,” 1 add, leaning forward slightly, giving her a bit more space but also closing the distance in out conversation. “But I have a feeling that’s not all that’s on your mind.”

She doesn’t answer immediately. Her nails tapping against the table’s edge is the only sound that fills the slight pause between us. Her eyes flick to the window beside us, and her gaze is unfocused as she stares past the glass and into the distance as if searching for something that’s just beyond her reach. I can see the wheels turning in her mind, the hesitation before she speaks, the quietness she hides beneath the surface.

The silence stretches, and I let it, giving her the space to sort through whatever thoughts are pulling at her. But then she shifts again, the Tiniest movement in her posture as she looks back at me. The guardedness is still there, but now it’s laced with something else something raw

When she finally speaks, her voice is quieter than before, but there’s a new depth to it, like she’s letting me see a piece of her she usually keeps hidden away. “This place…it’s mine. It’s a small business, with no glam and no big names–just books and coffee. People come in and out, but no one really knows much about anyone else. It’s the perfect disguise.”

“Disguise?” I echo, intrigued by where she’s going with this. My fingers tap lightly on the edge of the table now, my mind processing her words. “What do you mean by that?”

She lowers her voice even more, almost as if she’s letting me in on a secret she’s only now ready to share. “People think they know you, but they only know what they want to see. And it’s easier that way.”

For a moment, her words settle between us, hanging heavy in the air. The silence feels more intimate now, like we’re sharing something unspoken -something that’s exposed. She’s not just talking about the bookstore. She’s talking about herself. How she hides behind the walls she’s built around her life. It’s a carefully constructed mask. A mask, I suspect, she’s never let anyone truly see behind before now.

I break the silence with a soft, reassuring smile, my voice steady as try to ease some of the weight around us. “You’re more than just what you show to others, Harley, Don’t forget that.”

She looks at me then, and her gaze softens ever so slightly. It’s almost imperceptible, but I catch it. Then she exhales, as if releasing a breath she didn’t know she was holding, and I feel the shift in her energy. But even as she opens up a little more, there’s a hesitation behind her words, a wariness about fully letting me in.

*What if I don’t want anyone to know who I really am?” she asks quietly, her voice tinged with openness.

I sit back in my chair, giving her the space she needs while still keeping my tone steady and grounded. “Then you don’t have to. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be open to the possibility of wanting more for yourself-

I let the words hang in the air, knowing that I’m pushing her to confront something she’s been avoiding. But someone has to. Someone needs to help guide her while she navigates the things she’s hesitant to face.

But I’m patient, and I’ll give her the time she needs. One conversation at

The tension still Ungers between us as we start in on our lunch, but I can see the lingering confljer in her eyes–the flicker of curiosity beneath the walls she’s built up over the years. I don’t know if she’s ready to open up completely, but she’s already started.

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