chapter 3

Chapter 2: Lila’s second visit to Ben's Brew & Bakery was… less dramatic. Mostly because she’d already mentally prepared herself for the cold, nonchalant demeanor of the café’s owner.She wasn’t sure if she was annoyed or intrigued by his lack of enthusiasm for her idea of turning the place into a bakery—but she was definitely not backing down.Today, however, she was more focused. It was a Tuesday morning, and she’d arrived early to scope out the café. Not to be creepy, but to do a little research. Lila had a plan. And the plan involved pastries. Lots of them.She stepped inside, the little bell above the door jingling as it always did, signaling her entrance. Ben, predictably, was behind the counter, wiping down the surface with what looked like an absurdly large cloth. He didn’t look up."Morning," she said brightly, despite knowing he probably wouldn’t respond.Ben didn’t flinch. “Morning,” he muttered, still focused on the countertop.Lila walked up to the counter, determined to be charming this time. No awkward pauses. No stammering. She was going to be smooth."I’ll have a coffee," she said, her voice clear and confident. “And, um, a muffin. One of the strawberry shortcake ones.”Ben glanced up, his eyes narrowing as if trying to make some sort of decision. “You sure? The muffins are... rich. Might not be what you’re looking for.”Lila gave him a knowing smile, the kind of smile that said, I know exactly what I’m doing."Trust me. I’m prepared. I can handle rich."He stared at her for a moment longer than was comfortable, then grunted in response. “Alright. Coffee and a muffin. I’ll bring it over in a minute.”As she took a seat at a small table by the window, Lila felt strangely... hopeful. Maybe she could win him over. Maybe this would turn into a thing. She didn’t know what that thing was, but she was sure it involved muffins, coffee, and, eventually, a bakery. She smiled to herself as she pulled out her sketchbook—an attempt to appear productive, though truthfully, she was just doodling cupcake designs for the bakery she planned to open one day.Her thoughts were interrupted when Ben brought over her order, setting the coffee and muffin in front of her without a word. The muffin was indeed massive, with a thick, sugary crumble on top that looked as indulgent as it did dangerous. It practically screamed eat me, but in a very classy, sophisticated way."Thanks," Lila said, smiling up at him. She was about to take a bite when a thought occurred to her.“Hey, Ben…” she started, lifting her head. “How long have you been running this café?”Ben froze.Oh no. Did I say something weird? Lila immediately regretted opening her mouth. She should’ve just eaten the muffin in peace. But now the awkward silence was hanging between them like a thick fog.Finally, after a moment that felt too long, Ben replied, his tone flat: “Five years. Not that I keep track or anything.”Lila nodded, sensing the conversation was barely inching forward. “So, you’ve got it all figured out by now, huh?”Ben’s lips twitched upward slightly, though he quickly wiped the smirk away. “Yeah, you could say that. It’s not rocket science. You serve coffee, bake muffins, people come in. Simple.”Lila leaned forward, taking a small sip of her coffee, trying to keep the conversation alive. “And no plans to expand or change anything? You know, open up a little bakery corner?”His eyes flicked over to her for a brief moment, and then he shrugged. “I’m good, thanks.”She couldn’t help but feel her optimism falter. This was not going the way she’d hoped.But then, the most unexpected thing happened. Ben, for the first time since she’d walked in, actually looked at her. Not just a glance, but a full, considering stare. His lips parted slightly as if he was about to say something—something she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear.“I’m not saying no, but…” His voice trailed off.Lila’s heart skipped. Did he actually—did he just say—?"But?" she echoed, leaning in. “What do you mean by but?”Ben hesitated, running a hand through his messy hair. “Look, I like the idea of having something extra around here. A bakery corner could be cool. But…” His eyes shifted around the café, as if inspecting it from a different perspective. “This place is already kind of… my thing. It’s not just about the food. It’s about the vibe, y’know? People come here to get away from all the noise, not get hit by more stuff they could make themselves at home.”Lila blinked, processing. He had a point. Sort of. She could understand that. But she wasn’t about to back down just yet.“I get that,” she said slowly, feeling her determination rise. “But I don’t want to be just another bakery. I want to create a place where people come to feel at home, you know? Something that complements what you’ve already built here. A place where people can bake together. Not just buy a muffin and leave.”There was a long pause. Ben didn’t say anything. He just stared at her, his lips pursed, as though considering whether or not he’d just been hit with the most ridiculous idea or the best one.Finally, he spoke, his voice low but with a hint of something… softer. “You’re not the first person to have that idea. But I’m not gonna lie—sometimes I think you’re right. This place could use something new. Maybe… just maybe…” He gave her a pointed look. “You can stop by tomorrow and tell me more. Bring your ideas. No promises.”Lila couldn’t believe her ears."Wait, seriously?"Ben shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Yeah. Just don’t start making my muffins.”Lila smiled. “Deal.”---Later that day...Lila left the café, her heart bouncing like a sugar-high kid. It wasn’t a yes, but it sure wasn’t a no. She felt like she’d won a small victory, and it tasted almost as sweet as the muffin she’d devoured in a record five minutes.But there was still a lot of work to do. If she was going to get this bakery idea off the ground, she needed to pull out all the stops. And with Ben still playing hard-to-get, it wasn’t going to be easy.But that was fine. Lila loved a good challenge. And something told her that this one was going to be sweeter than any muffin she’d ever had.