Chapter 245:
Shattered Bonds
Chris’s Point of View
Chris slouched against the doorframe of the small cafe, nursing his coffee, his eyes exploring the room. Warm morning light falling through the windows lighted an area across the polished wood tables. There were voices chattering in the background with cups clinking against the muttering of disturbed thoughts. He hoped this would clear up things between Megan and him after this meeting. But he could feel the tension between them.
“Megan’s running late,” he muttered to himself, his spoon circling around in his coffee in an absent stirring motion.
His phone buzzed. He went to the screen to see a message from his editor, inquiring about the progress on their book project. He shook his head and sighed again, rubbing his temples. It was getting really stressful in his career and life balance. All he had not imagined of what helping Megan with the book, coupled with a faked relationship, would lead into.
The cafe door swung open and Megan strode in. On one limb, her face showed determination; on the other, it showed exhaustion. She was always impeccably attired, and this told the tale of the emotional and physical drain she had been undergoing lately.
“Megan said wearily as she approached his table and took a chair, glancing around as if to make sure they weren’t overheard.
“Hey,” Chris replied, trying to sound bright. “Sorry to drag you out here. I thought it might be nice to have a sort of neutral place to talk.”
Megan nodded, the tip of her gaze avoiding his. “Yeah, I could use a change of scenery. Things have sort of…complicated.”
Chris washed down a sip of his coffee to clear his head for the appropriate words. “You know, lately, I’ve been doing so much thinking, far as where we stand-the fake relationship, the book, everything-and it’s starting to feel like so much more than just a contract.”
Finally, her eyes met his, and there was a sear of something-pain, regret, maybe both. “I know what you mean. I’ve been feeling the same way. But… there’s so much we haven’t talked about.”
Chris leaned forward, lowering his voice. “We need to address what’s going on. I can’t keep acting like everything is all right when it obviously isn’t.”.
Megan’s face tightened. “It isn’t just the relationship, Chris. It’s the fallout from everything-my ex, the media, my career. I thought I was strong enough to bear it all, but the battle is slowly wearing me out.”
Chris’s eyes softened. “I get it, really do. I’m just so very afraid that in the process, we are losing sight of what is important. This book, this charade… they were supposed to be about helping each other. Not adding on to the stress.
Megan nodded thoughtfully. “I know. And I do appreciate everything you have done for me. But there is something you should know.”
Before Chris could answer, for the second time that morning, the door of the cafe swung open, and Miles walked in. He was red with guilt, doing a little dance just inside the door before walking toward their table.
“Miles,” Megan said, surprise and a hint of aggravation clear in her voice. “What brings you here?
Miles took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I just… I thought we needed to talk.”
Chris’s eyes narrowed. “Is this about the problems you’ve been having with Megan?”
Miles looked uncomfortable but nodded. “Yeah, well… I owe Megan an explanation, and maybe… maybe I can help clean up some of this mess.”
Megan’s eyes widened. “You want to help? After everything that’s happened?
Miles nodded. “I know I’ve done things worse. But I want to make amends. I want to explain why I disappeared, and how I deal with my struggles.”
Chris exchanged a look with Megan. “Do you think this is a good idea?”
Megan sighed, rubbing her temples. “I don’t know. But if there’s a chance that talking it out might help, then we need to try.
Miles sat rigidly in the chair at the table. “Look, Megan, I’m so sorry I left you that way. I didn’t know how to handle everything that was happening. I was scared and overwhelmed.”.
Her voice was flat, but the forbearing ache in it wasn’t quite smothered. “You left me to deal with everything on my own. I had to clean this mess with my ex, the media circus, all the stress from the fight. You should have been there for me.”.
Miles nodded, his face a picture of contrition. “I understand. I really do. And I wish I’d been stronger. However, I’m here now, and I want to try to make things right.”.
Chris watched the exchange; his mind was racing. It was clear how deep this gulf was between Megan and Miles, with their past weighing heavily in the present. If these issues were to be sorted out for Megan’s well-being and the future of the project, they had to get down to the root of the problems.
“Miles,” Chris started after a breath. “You really need to understand that you can’t just come in and expect everything to be fine. Megan has been through a lot. You need to be more than just words.”
Miles caught his gaze, his face flashing different emotions. “I understand that. I am not asking for forgiveness right away, only to show I am willing to put some effort in.”
Megan took a deep breath, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I appreciate that you want to make things right, Miles. However, this will take time. Trust is something that has to be rebuilt.”
Miles nodded, a mix of hope and resignation crossing his features. “I understand. I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”.
Chris leaned over, placing a hand on Megan’s. “We all need to find a way to work through this together. It’s not about the book or the fake relationship-what it is, is about us finding out what’s real and what matters.”
Megan’s eyes gentled as she looked at Chris. “Thank you, Chris. I have been so caught up in everything that has gone wrong. I forgot about what really mattered.
The silence was broken when Miles coughed. “I know it’s not going to be easy. But I want to be part of fixing things, not just for Megan but for all of us.”
Chris turned to both Megan and Miles. Their faces were complicated with emotion. “Let’s do this one step at a time. First of all, we all are going to have to be honest about our problems.”
Megan nodded in agreement. “That’s all I can ask for. Honesty and effort.”
The conversation shifted as they began talking about real steps forward. Chris and Megan outlined what they were going to do with the book; Miles promised to do whatever he could to try and rebuild their trust. The atmosphere in the coffee shop seemed to lighten as they spoke, filled with cautious optimism.
As they closed out their meeting, there was no denying that for Chris, though the road ahead was going to be bumpy, there was at least a glimmer of possibility. The fractured bonds that seemed to hang between them had begun to knit back together, and through combined effort, perhaps they could find a way to rebuild their relationships and move forward in a positive way together.
Megan rose to her feet, her face set. “Thanks for coming today, guys. Let’s do this, for everyone’s good.”