Ethan calls again. I’m about to reject his call again, when I hear footsteps behind me.

I turn and it’s Ethan. My jaw drops. The nerve! “What are you doing here?”

“I just came back to Carmel.”

“No, what are you doing here?”

“Celine told me you left the café, so I came looking for you.”

He sounds calm. Of course he’s calm. Why wouldn’t he be calm?

“Why would you look for me?”

He clenches his jaw. “She was worried about you.”

“Please, go. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

“Maya, look—”

“Don’t Maya, look me. I saw the newspaper. Celine saw the newspaper. And what’s worse, Aaron saw the newspaper. Are you happy now? I assume you’re happy.”

He smiles and I feel like punching him. Again. “Don’t worry about Aaron.”

“Don’t worry about Aaron? Stop patronizing me. Who do you think you are?”

“All I meant is that it’s not Aaron. Max is not Aaron.”

“Max lives in Carmel and there are only a handful of Lift drivers here. It has to be him.”

“You’re wrong. Max doesn’t live in Carmel anymore. He moved out last year.”

“W—what? Why would I believe you? Why would I believe anything you say?”

He shrugs. “For one, because Aaron’s been in love with the same woman for years.”

If Aaron is not Max and Max doesn’t live here, how could I possibly find him? Is there any other way that doesn’t involve Ethan? There’s none. None.

I take a deep breath. “OK. Let’s say I do believe you; Max is not Aaron. Then who is he? Why won’t you tell me? Why are you so against me talking to him?”

He stares into my eyes and although I’m furious at him and a minute ago I would’ve physically taken him on, I find myself calming down. And that same feeling I had the other day in San Francisco, when we were looking at each other, wraps around me like a warm blanket. What is it about this man? I’ve never been so conflicted, so torn in my feelings for someone. Ever. One minute I could just stare into his eyes and get lost in them like a teenager, the next I’m attacking him. I have all the reasons in the world to hate him right now. He stands between me and the man I fell in love with a year ago. He stands in the way of my happiness.

“I will tell you who he is if you tell me why you came back to Carmel. You said I was wrong thinking it was to advance your writing career. Prove me wrong. Tell me why you came back. But I want the truth.”

“I don’t have to tell you anything, Ethan. Why are you getting in between us? We’re not kids who need a chaperone. He’s a grown man who can take care of himself.”

“I already said. Because I don’t want him to get hurt again. He’s been hurt enough.”