chapter 10

Chapter 9: The next few days flew by in a blur of flour and coffee beans, as the soft opening for Lila’s muffin corner quickly approached. The excitement in the air was palpable, and even though Ben was still navigating his personal space, he had become an indispensable part of the operation. They had settled into a quiet, comfortable rhythm—working side by side, brainstorming, laughing over burnt batches, and even sharing a few quiet moments when the café was empty.Ben had been more present than Lila had expected, and though there were still moments when he seemed a little distant, she noticed that the connection between them was slowly rebuilding. It was subtle—a lingering look as he handed her a cup of coffee, a soft smile when she finally perfected the lemon-poppy muffin recipe, a joke that made them both laugh a little too loudly for a café setting.Lila was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, things didn’t need to move at the speed of light. She was content with the pace.Still, there were things she couldn’t shake. That flutter of excitement when Ben’s hand brushed hers while reaching for the same bag of flour. The little glances they exchanged when they were in the kitchen together, the unsaid words that seemed to fill the space between them. And maybe, just maybe, those moments meant something more. But she didn’t want to rush it. Not yet.At the Café… The Morning of the Soft OpeningIt was the morning of the soft opening. The café was dressed up with bunting, freshly baked muffins stacked high on the counter, and the little sign announcing the “Secret Muffin of the Day” sitting proudly at the front. There was a new energy in the air—a little more playful, a little more lively. The crowd was light, but enough to keep them busy, and the energy between Lila and Ben felt lighter, too.Lila was behind the counter, nervously adjusting the muffins for the hundredth time, her stomach twisted with excitement. Everything felt important today. She wanted this launch to go well, not just for the bakery, but for herself.Ben, of course, was in the back, keeping an eye on the coffee grinder and making sure the secret muffin was at its best. Lila had offered to help him with the coffee, but he had insisted. It seemed like a good time for him to take charge of something—just like the muffin idea had been his suggestion—and Lila was more than happy to step back and let him lead in that way.“Hey, Lila, we’ve got some regulars here,” Grace called from the front of the café, pulling Lila’s attention away from her careful muffin arranging. “I think they’re about to fall in love with your muffins, if the way they’re eyeing them is any indication.”Lila turned to see a couple of familiar faces sitting near the window. They were the ones who’d been the first to show up when Ben’s Brew & Bakery had opened, the ones who’d supported him before it became the cozy little community hub it was now.Ben appeared from the back with a tray of fresh cups of coffee and, naturally, the secret muffin. Lila watched as he placed the tray down in front of the couple, offering a warm smile.“I hope you’re ready for a surprise,” Ben said, sliding the muffin across the table with a flourish.The couple looked intrigued. “A surprise muffin? That sounds... exciting,” the woman said, smiling. “What’s in it?”“You’ll just have to try it and find out,” Ben teased, his voice light and playful.Lila couldn’t help but grin as she watched him interact with the customers. It was a side of him that she didn’t see often—the confident, playful side that had been hiding under the quiet, brooding exterior. She liked it. She really liked it.The couple dug in, their eyes lighting up as they tasted the muffin.“This is incredible!” the man exclaimed, taking a big bite. “What’s the secret ingredient?”Ben’s smile was a little mischievous. “That’s for you to figure out.”Lila laughed softly from the counter, watching them. Ben looked over and caught her eye, the softest of smiles tugging at his lips.She raised her cup in a little salute, and he returned the gesture with a wink.For a moment, it felt like everything was exactly as it should be—simple, sweet, and unhurried.Later That Evening...By the time the soft opening wound down, Lila was exhausted. It had been a whirlwind of customers, tasting, and minor hiccups, but they’d pulled it off. There had been smiles, laughter, and more than a few compliments on the secret muffin—which, by all accounts, was a massive hit. Ben had even gotten into the spirit, cracking jokes with the regulars and talking them through the “mystery muffin” in a way that had everyone laughing and guessing what the secret ingredient was.As the last customer left, Lila was behind the counter, cleaning up, while Ben stacked chairs in the back. Grace was already preparing to head out, but she lingered, giving Lila a knowing look.“Well,” Grace said, her voice light but carrying a layer of curiosity, “that went well, didn’t it?”Lila let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Yeah. I think it did. A lot better than I expected.”Grace raised an eyebrow. “And... how’s he?”Lila looked up, realizing Grace was referring to Ben. “He’s... I don’t know. Better. More present, I guess. But I’m not sure where we stand.”“Hmm.” Grace leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “Well, my advice? Let it breathe. If you’re not sure where things are going, don’t force it. You two are already working together in a way that’s... kinda beautiful. Let it grow.”Lila smiled, her heart swelling with a strange mixture of warmth and uncertainty. “I think... I think I’m doing just that. Not rushing it. Not pushing it. Just... seeing where it goes.”Grace nodded in approval. “Good. You’ve got a good thing here, Lila. And sometimes, the best things happen when you let them take their own sweet time.”After Closing Time...By the time the café closed for the night, Ben was still there, helping to lock up. The day had been a success, but there was still an unspoken tension in the air, something Lila couldn’t quite put her finger on. Ben had been more open than usual, but every time she thought there was a moment to deepen their connection, he would pull back just a little bit.She found him by the front door, his hands resting on the counter, his expression thoughtful.“You okay?” she asked, her voice quieter than usual.He looked up, meeting her eyes. “Yeah. Just thinking.”Lila’s heart skipped. “About what?”Ben hesitated for a long moment, then sighed. “I don’t know. About... everything. The café. You. This... whatever it is between us.”Lila stepped closer, her hand resting lightly on the counter next to his. “I get it,” she said softly. “I’m in no rush, Ben. Really. But I just want you to know, I’m here. Whenever you’re ready. For whatever that means.”Ben didn’t respond immediately, and for a moment, the space between them felt heavier than ever. She could see the uncertainty in his eyes, but there was something else there, too—something softer.“I don’t deserve you, Lila,” he finally said, his voice low and almost guilty.Lila shook her head. “Don’t say that. You don’t have to deserve anything. I’m here because I want to be. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now.”He looked at her for a long moment, and she saw something in his eyes that made her pulse race—something fragile, like a door just starting to open.“Okay,” he whispered. “Thanks.”It wasn’t much, but for the first time in a while, it felt like a step forward.