Falling For Her contracted Husband

Third Person POV

Sky strolled into the quaint café on a bright afternoon, her bag slung over one shoulder and her mind preoccupied with the upcoming deadline for her project. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries wafted through the air as she scanned the room for a quiet corner to settle into. She barely noticed the tall figure by the entrance until his voice called her name, warm and familiar. 

"Sky? Is that really you?" 

She turned, her lips parting in surprise. "Shawn?" Her eyes lit up as she took in the sight of her college friend. His broad smile and the casual confidence in his stance instantly brought back memories of late-night study sessions and group projects. 

"It's been ages," Shawn said, his voice tinged with genuine delight. "What are the odds of running into you here?" 

Sky laughed, shaking her head. "Too slim, apparently. What are you doing here?" 

"Business trip," he explained, gesturing to his laptop bag. "But enough about that. Let's catch up. How about lunch? My treat." 

She hesitated for a moment, glancing at her watch. But the prospect of catching up with an old friend was too tempting to resist. "Why not? It's been too long." 

The two found a cozy booth near the window, and soon, the table was laden with sandwiches and steaming cups of coffee. The conversation flowed effortlessly as they reminisced about their college days, laughing over shared memories and updating each other on their lives since graduation. Shawn leaned back in his chair, grinning at one of Sky's anecdotes when his gaze flickered past her, narrowing slightly. 

"Do you know that guy?" Shawn asked, nodding subtly toward the far end of the café. 

Sky frowned and turned halfway in her seat, but she saw nothing out of the ordinary. "Who?" 

"The one who keeps staring at us like he's trying to solve a riddle," Shawn said, his tone tinged with amusement. "Behind you, near the corner table." 

Sky turned again, this time more deliberately, her brow furrowing as she scanned the room. It wasn't until she shifted her gaze past a cluster of patrons that she saw him—Ocean. He was seated at a table with a man in a sharp suit, their plates barely touched as Ocean seemed engrossed in the conversation. Or rather, he was trying to appear engrossed. 

Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly looked away, hoping the flush creeping up her cheeks wasn't too obvious. "Oh," she said, her voice betraying a mix of surprise and nonchalance. "That's Ocean. We know each other." 

Shawn's brows arched, his curiosity piqued. "Ocean, huh? He doesn't seem like just an acquaintance. He's been glancing over here every five seconds." 

Sky forced a laugh, waving a dismissive hand. "He's probably just surprised to see me." 

Across the room, Ocean was doing his best to focus on the client in front of him, nodding at intervals and responding when necessary. But his attention kept drifting to the booth where Sky sat, her laughter ringing clear even amidst the café's lively hum. He clenched his jaw as he watched her lean forward, completely engrossed in whatever Shawn was saying. The way her eyes sparkled when she laughed made it harder to look away, yet he knew he shouldn't be staring. 

"Ocean?" his client's voice broke through his thoughts. 

"Apologies," Ocean said, clearing his throat and sitting straighter in his chair. "Where were we?" 

But as much as he tried to remain engaged in the discussion, his gaze betrayed him, flitting back to Sky and Shawn every now and then. He hated the knot tightening in his chest, the way jealousy crept in uninvited. 

Meanwhile, Shawn leaned closer to Sky, lowering his voice. "Okay, seriously, what's the story with him? He looks like he's plotting something." 

Sky sighed, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "It's complicated." 

"Complicated," Shawn repeated, his tone teasing but curious. "Well, whoever he is, he's definitely not indifferent." 

Sky decided to leave it at that, unwilling to delve deeper. She turned the conversation back to lighter topics, determined not to let Ocean's presence disrupt her time with Shawn. But despite her efforts, the faint awareness of Ocean's gaze lingered, a silent tension she couldn't entirely shake off.

Sky hesitated, glancing behind her as Shawn motioned toward a table at the far end of the room. Her eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on the Ocean. The surprise was immediate and sharp—there he was, sitting alone, his piercing gaze already locked on her. For a fleeting second, their eyes met. Ocean's expression flickered, unreadable but intense, before he quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in the drink before him. 

Sky's heart stumbled, and she turned back to Shawn, unsure if she should address the situation. Should she tell him about her and Ocean? About the complicated history between them? Her hesitation lasted only a moment before she shrugged it off, deciding against it for now. Shawn didn't need to know. Not yet. 

Shawn leaned closer, his tone light as he resumed their conversation. "So, what do you think, Sky? About joining me on tour for the new project? I'd love to have your input—it's always spot-on." He smiled warmly, his hand casually brushing hers before resting atop it. The gesture was unassuming, almost friendly, but it sent a jolt through her nonetheless. 

Sky blinked, caught off guard by the contact. "Oh, um…" She trailed off, her thoughts scattering as she tried to focus on Shawn's words rather than the tingling warmth of his palm. "Touring? That's a big commitment. I'd have to think about it, Shawn." 

"You don't have to decide now," Shawn said with an easy grin, squeezing her hand lightly. "Just consider it, alright? It'd mean a lot to me." 

From across the room, Ocean's jaw tightened, his fingers curling around the edge of his glass. He wasn't close enough to hear their conversation, but the sight of Shawn's hand on Sky's was enough to make his chest tighten uncomfortably. His table was far enough away to go unnoticed—at least, that's what he'd assumed—but the way his gaze kept darting toward them betrayed his composure. He didn't like this. He didn't like seeing her with someone else, even if he had no right to feel that way anymore. 

Sky noticed the faint tension in Ocean's shoulders, the way his grip on the glass seemed firmer than necessary. Her stomach twisted as she fought the urge to meet his eyes again. Instead, she smiled at Shawn, trying to focus on their conversation. 

Sky pulled her hands back abruptly, her fingers trembling as they rested in her lap. She gave Shawn a hesitant glance, her expression unreadable, before muttering.

"I'll think about it." Her tone was quiet but firm, leaving no room for further discussion. Shawn opened his mouth to respond, but Sky was already shifting her gaze to the table, the unspoken tension between them hanging in the air. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, nodding slightly as though acknowledging her need for space, even if he didn't fully understand it. 

Shawn nodded, his smile unwavering. "That's all I ask. No pressure." 

Minutes later, they rose from their seats, the clinking of silverware and muted conversations around them fading into the background as they headed toward the door. Shawn's hand hovered briefly near the small of her back, a protective gesture he didn't quite follow through on, and Sky kept her arms crossed as they stepped out into the night. The cool breeze hit them as they left the restaurant, and without exchanging a word, they began walking down the dimly lit street, their steps in sync but their thoughts worlds apart.