chapter 8

Chapter 7: The Recipe for ChangeLila couldn’t remember the last time she’d woken up feeling this excited—nervous, but excited. It had been two weeks since “Muffin Madness” night, and despite the emotional rollercoaster, things had taken a positive turn. Ben had opened up, and while he was still a little distant, his commitment to the bakery was unwavering.Grace had been right, though. Patience was key, and Lila was learning that with Ben, things couldn’t be rushed. She wasn’t trying to force anything, but there was no denying the electricity between them. The smiles. The casual touches. The easy laughter. Maybe Ben just needed time. And maybe, Lila needed to stop overthinking everything.Today was the big day—the meeting with the local coffee supplier. The one that could potentially make her muffin corner come to life. They were discussing bulk orders for the bakery and, if things went well, a partnership that could elevate her dream into something tangible. Ben had agreed to meet her there—though, in typical Ben fashion, he wasn’t thrilled about the idea.She glanced at her reflection as she adjusted the apron that had become her new signature look—a bright yellow one with little muffins on it, a gift from Grace after the last event. She smiled at her own reflection, thinking that, if nothing else, at least her muffin obsession was now official.At the Coffee Supplier's...Lila arrived at the coffee supplier’s warehouse, which, despite its industrial setting, had a cozy vibe. There were burlap sacks of beans stacked high against the walls, the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee filling the air. She spotted the representative right away—a middle-aged man with a thick beard, wearing a well-worn apron and a smile that spoke of years of caffeine-fueled enthusiasm.“Lila, right?” he greeted with a firm handshake. “I’ve heard good things about you. Grace has told me a lot about your ‘muffin madness.’”Lila chuckled nervously. “Well, I hope it was all positive.”He laughed. “Let’s just say, I think your muffins are as exciting as our coffee. So, you’re planning a ‘muffin corner,’ huh? That’s a pretty big step.”She nodded, trying to keep her nerves in check. “Yeah, I’m really passionate about it. I want it to be a space where people can be creative. Have fun. But the key is pairing it with good coffee—something that’s as memorable as the muffins.”“Well, you’ve come to the right place.” He grinned. “We’ve got a great selection. Let me show you what we’ve got.”Lila was so caught up in the excitement of the potential partnership that she almost forgot about the quiet, brooding presence behind her. Ben had been strangely quiet throughout the meeting, standing off to the side with his arms crossed, watching Lila speak with the supplier. She could feel his eyes on her, but she was too wrapped up in the logistics to acknowledge him.She was about to ask a follow-up question when Ben cleared his throat. “Hey, Lila, you’re forgetting the most important part.”Lila turned to him, slightly taken aback. “What?”“The coffee,” he said, nodding toward the array of beans. “You can’t pair your muffins with just any coffee. The coffee has to match the muffin vibe. It’s all about the experience.”Lila blinked, surprised by his sudden input. “You’re not wrong. But... what do you suggest?”Ben walked over, grabbed a few bags of beans off the shelf, and handed them to the supplier. “These. The dark roast. A little bold, a little rich. Pair it with something sweet and indulgent, like a double chocolate muffin or one of those crazy ones with caramel. It’ll balance it out.”Lila felt a surge of pride. He was in this. Really in it. Her heart did a little flip. Ben had never been this involved, and she hadn’t expected him to care so much about the finer details. But here he was, stepping in without hesitation.The supplier nodded, clearly impressed. “You’ve got good taste,” he said to Ben. “That’s a solid choice. What kind of muffins are you thinking of, Lila?”Lila blinked, her mind still reeling from the fact that Ben was taking charge. “Well, I was thinking of starting with a few classic options—like blueberry, banana nut, and, of course, something more daring, like a lemon poppy seed.”Ben nodded thoughtfully. “I’d go with that. But add a little twist—like a raspberry or white chocolate option. You can even offer a savory one, like bacon cheddar.”The supplier leaned forward with a grin. “Now that’s what I like to hear.”Lila turned to Ben, her heart swelling with gratitude. “I didn’t know you were so into the whole muffin-coffee pairing thing. You’re definitely helping out a lot today.”Ben shrugged, looking almost uncomfortable with the praise. “I’m just here for the muffins. But you’re right—coffee and muffins are a good match. And... you’ve got something good going here.”Lila smiled, trying to hide the warmth spreading through her chest. “Thanks. I’m glad we’re on the same page.”Later That Day...After the meeting, Lila couldn’t help but feel lighter. The coffee supplier was on board. The details were coming together. And more importantly, she and Ben were getting along better than ever. It felt like things were falling into place, even if the road ahead was still a bit uncertain.But as she stepped into Ben’s Brew & Bakery later that day to wrap up a few things, she noticed an unfamiliar tension in the air. The café was quieter than usual, and Ben wasn’t behind the counter, as expected.Instead, Grace was sitting at one of the tables, looking like she’d just lost a bet.“Grace? What’s going on?” Lila asked, walking over to her.Grace looked up, her eyes wide with amusement. “You won’t believe this, but Ben just quit.”Lila froze. “What?”“Yeah. Just quit. He told me he couldn’t handle it anymore. Too much stress, too many things going on. I think it’s more than just the café, though. He’s got some stuff he’s dealing with that’s really weighing on him.”Lila’s stomach flipped. Ben had quit?She took a deep breath, trying to process what was happening. Was this it? Was he really pulling away?Before she could say anything else, Ben walked into the café. He didn’t look like his usual calm self—there was a visible tension in his posture, a weariness in his eyes that made him seem a million miles away.“Ben?” Lila called softly, her voice catching in her throat.He looked at her, and for a second, the tension between them was palpable. “I’m sorry, Lila,” he said, his voice strained. “I didn’t want to leave you hanging. But I think I need some time to figure things out. The bakery... this whole thing... it’s a lot for me right now.”Lila’s heart sank. She didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t expected him to just pull away like this. It wasn’t fair. She had been giving him space, respecting his boundaries.But now, it felt like she was losing him.“Ben,” she began, her voice shaking, “you’ve been amazing with this whole idea. But I don’t understand... why now?”Ben rubbed the back of his neck, clearly struggling. “It’s not you. It’s just... I’ve got a lot going on. And I need to take a step back. From everything. I don’t know if that’s fair to you or the bakery, but I can’t keep pretending I have it all together.”Lila’s mind raced, her heart aching for him. She understood that he needed space—but did that mean the bakery, their connection, was also on hold? Was he really going to walk away from everything they’d built?Grace, sensing the shift in the air, stood up from her table and gave Lila a knowing look. "You should talk to him. He's not going anywhere, but he's not sure how to handle this whole thing. He just needs time."Lila nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I know. But right now... I just need to know if we—this thing between us—is worth the time. Or if I’m just chasing a dream that’s slipping away.”Ben looked at her, his eyes softening, filled with regret. “It’s worth it, Lila. But I can’t promise you when I’ll be ready. Just... don’t give up on your dream.”Lila stood there, her chest tight, wondering how she was supposed to move forward. She had come this far with Ben—and now, she wasn’t sure what came next.