chapter 12

Chapter 11: It was one of those rare mornings when everything seemed to be falling into place effortlessly. The sun was shining through the café’s windows, casting soft light on the rows of freshly baked muffins that lined the counter. Lila hummed to herself as she arranged the muffins, her mind relaxed for the first time in days. The bakery was thriving, and with each passing day, she felt herself becoming more comfortable with the rhythm of it all—more comfortable with the way things were between her and Ben.They were in a good place. No drama, no rushing, just two people figuring things out as they went along. And though there were still moments of uncertainty—like when Ben would get a little quiet or when their conversations would veer into territory Lila wasn’t sure she was ready to explore—they were growing closer in small, unspoken ways. Their relationship had become something delicate, like the frosted edges of a perfectly baked pastry. A bit fragile, but full of promise.That morning, Ben was bustling around in the back, preparing the coffee for the early crowd, while Lila was behind the counter, wiping down the surfaces and stealing glances at him whenever she could.“Ben,” Lila called, a playful tone in her voice. “You’re making way too much coffee. Are you planning on opening a coffee shop instead of a bakery?”Ben chuckled, not looking up from his task. “It’s for the regulars. You can never have too much coffee in this place.”“I don’t know,” Lila said, eyeing the dozens of coffee cups already lined up. “If they drink this much, they’re going to be bouncing off the walls by noon.”Ben gave her a mischievous grin. “Maybe that’s the secret ingredient. The caffeine high. People just keep coming back for more.”Lila laughed, the sound echoing through the café. She hadn’t realized how much she missed the easy back-and-forth banter until it became a regular part of her mornings with him.“Maybe I should sneak a little extra butter into the muffins, just to balance out the caffeine rush,” she teased.“Now that is a dangerous idea,” Ben replied, his voice tinged with mock horror. “You’re going to start a muffin revolution, and I’m going to have to keep up with demand by baking all night.”Lila grinned, the playful exchange making her heart feel light. She loved how easy it was with Ben, even when they were just talking about muffins and coffee. It was as if they had their own little language—one that didn’t need words to feel meaningful.Later That Afternoon...The rush of the morning crowd had died down, and the café was quieter now. There was a steady flow of customers, but the frantic energy had settled into a comfortable hum. Lila was cleaning the counter again, wiping away the last crumbs of muffin batter when Ben came out from the back with a fresh pot of coffee.He stopped near her, placing the coffee pot down with a soft clink. He hesitated for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, before speaking.“Lila, I’ve been thinking...” Ben started, his voice a little more serious than usual.Lila turned to face him, her hands still on the counter. “About what?”He seemed to be choosing his words carefully. “About the bakery... and about us.”The air shifted between them. Lila felt a small flutter of unease, unsure where this was going. They’d been so good, so comfortable, that the thought of things changing felt a little jarring.“Okay,” she said slowly, “What about us?”Ben ran a hand through his hair, his brow furrowed. “Well, I’ve been feeling like... I don’t know, like I’m holding back in a way. I’m here, I’m working, I’m with you every day, but there’s a part of me that still feels like I’m not fully present—like I’m keeping a part of myself locked away.”Lila’s stomach did a little flip. She didn’t expect this. “Ben...”“I’m not saying I’m not ready to be here,” he said quickly, “But I’ve got a lot of stuff in my head. Old stuff. Things that I’ve been holding onto for too long, and I’m not sure how to let them go. I don’t want to drag you into all of it, but I don’t want to keep you at arm’s length, either. I know that’s not fair.”Lila looked at him for a long moment. She understood more than he realized. She had her own walls, things she had yet to work through, but with Ben, it had felt like something was shifting—and she didn’t want to let that slip away.“You don’t have to explain everything to me right now,” Lila said gently, her voice steady. “But you do need to stop holding back. I can’t be in this with you if you’re not fully here. We can’t build something on uncertainty, Ben.”Ben nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “I know. I just... I don’t know how to stop being afraid of it.”Lila stepped closer to him, her heart pounding in her chest. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’m not asking you to have all the answers, or to be perfect. I’m just asking you to be real with me. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. But I need to know you’re with me, too.”For a moment, Ben didn’t say anything. He just looked at her, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he stepped closer. He reached out, brushing his fingers against hers, a touch that was quiet but full of meaning.“I want to be here with you,” he said softly, his voice steady. “I just need a little time to figure out how to let go of everything else.”Lila smiled, her heart lifting. “I can give you that. As long as you promise not to pull away.”Ben nodded, his thumb grazing the back of her hand. “I promise.”It was a small moment, but it felt like the beginning of something bigger. Something real. For the first time, Lila felt like they were truly on the same page—not rushing, not pushing, but taking the time to build something that mattered.That Evening...After closing, the two of them stayed behind to clean up. The café was quiet, with only the soft hum of the fridge and the occasional clink of dishes breaking the silence. Ben was stacking chairs, and Lila was wiping down the last table when she glanced up to find him standing a little closer than usual.“You know,” Ben said, his tone light but with a hint of something deeper, “I think the muffins have officially become a symbol of something more.”Lila raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”“Like... they represent us,” he said, stepping closer. “We’ve got all the right ingredients—just a little patience and a lot of butter.”Lila laughed, shaking her head. “I can’t believe you just made a muffin metaphor about us.”Ben shrugged with a grin. “What can I say? It’s how my brain works.”“Well,” she said, her voice softening, “I think I’m okay with that. If the muffins are a metaphor, then I’m in. I’m willing to wait for us to bake at the perfect temperature.”Ben smiled, his eyes warm. “Then I guess we’ve got all the time in the world.”As the evening wore on, the last of the customers trickled out, and Lila and Ben closed up the café together, their unspoken connection growing a little stronger with each passing day. It was slow, steady, and unhurried. And for the first time in a long while, Lila felt like she was exactly where she needed to be.