chapter 11

Chapter 10: The week after the soft opening passed in a whirlwind of customers, muffin requests, and a few unexpected hurdles. Lila’s muffin corner was officially a hit. The secret muffin became a thing of legend in Ben’s Brew & Bakery, with customers coming back week after week to try and guess the mysterious ingredient. Ben was more present than ever, and each day, Lila felt a little more at ease with the rhythm they were creating.There were still moments when she felt the distance between them—when Ben would get quiet, lost in his thoughts, or when he would pull away just a bit when she reached out. But there were also times when he’d stay a little longer at the end of the day, helping her clean up or chatting about the next batch of muffins. The quiet moments between them were beginning to feel comfortable, and Lila realized that maybe she was okay with things moving slowly.Still, there were days when she wondered if Ben was holding back more than he let on. The guarded way he’d look at her sometimes, or the way he’d back off whenever she moved a little too close, made her think that he wasn’t quite ready to let go of whatever was weighing on him.But she wasn’t going to rush him. Not now.One Quiet Afternoon...It was one of those slow afternoons where the café was quiet, with only a few regulars sipping their drinks and reading the paper. Ben was behind the counter, brewing the coffee as usual, while Lila arranged a fresh batch of muffins. The steady rhythm of the café was soothing, and for once, Lila wasn’t worried about the next step, the next move, or what would happen next with Ben.She was focused on the here and now.Ben was humming softly to himself as he worked, and Lila couldn’t help but smile. There was something charming about the way he seemed so content in his own little world. She glanced over at him, catching his eye just as he looked up.“Hey,” she said, her voice light and teasing, “You’re awfully happy for a guy who’s been handling muffins and coffee all day.”Ben grinned, leaning over the counter slightly. “Well, it helps when I get to work with the best muffin-maker in the world.”Lila rolled her eyes playfully. “Oh, stop. You’re just saying that because you want me to give you the recipe for the secret muffin of the day.”Ben laughed, shaking his head. “Nah. I’ve got my own secret muffin recipe up my sleeve. I’m just saying... this place is starting to feel like home. And I think you’re the reason for that.”Lila’s heart skipped. She hadn’t expected that. She’d always thought of herself as the one who was just starting to feel at home in the bakery, not Ben. It was a quiet, simple moment, but something about the way he said it made it feel... important.“You’ve been a huge part of it too, you know,” Lila said, her voice softening. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you. The secret muffin, the help with the café, everything.”Ben looked at her for a long moment, his gaze steady. There was a warmth in his eyes that made Lila’s pulse quicken, but before she could say anything else, a customer walked in, breaking the moment. Ben turned to greet them with his usual charm, but Lila couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, even if it was just a small change.That Evening...As the café closed for the night, Lila and Ben were left to clean up together. Grace had already gone home, leaving the two of them to handle the final details. The silence between them was comfortable, but there was an unspoken tension in the air—something that felt like it had been building for days. Lila couldn’t ignore it anymore.She glanced over at Ben, who was wiping down the counter. “Ben?”He looked up, surprised by the quietness in her voice. “Yeah?”Lila hesitated, unsure if she should bring it up, but then decided she couldn’t keep pretending like everything was just fine when there was this lingering feeling between them.“I’ve been thinking...” she started, trailing off. Ben looked at her, his eyes softening.“About what?”She took a deep breath. “About us. About what this is. We’ve been spending a lot of time together, and I feel like we’re getting closer, but... I don’t know if you’re feeling the same way. I don’t want to push you, but I just want to know where we stand.”Ben didn’t say anything for a long moment, and Lila could feel her heart racing. She hated being vulnerable like this, but it felt like it was time to finally ask the question that had been sitting in the back of her mind for days.Finally, Ben spoke. “I know I’ve been distant. I’ve been trying to figure out a lot of things in my life... things that have nothing to do with you. I just didn’t want to drag you into it.”Lila nodded, her heart sinking a little. She had a feeling that was the case. But hearing him say it aloud made it feel more real.“I get that,” she said quietly. “But, Ben, I’m here. I don’t need you to have it all figured out. I just need to know that... that we’re not just spinning our wheels. That we’re moving forward, together, in some way.”Ben looked at her, his expression softening. For a moment, he seemed like he wanted to say something but was holding back. He took a step toward her, closing the gap between them.“I want to be with you, Lila,” he said softly, his voice steady but full of emotion. “I do. But I don’t want to rush into something just because it feels right in the moment. I want to make sure I’m ready, for you. For us.”Lila felt a warmth spread through her chest, a mix of relief and hope. “I’m not rushing, Ben. I’m just... I just want to know we’re on the same page. I care about you. More than I expected to.”Ben took another step closer, his hand brushing against hers. For a moment, the world around them seemed to pause. It wasn’t a grand gesture, just a small, simple touch, but it was enough.“I care about you too,” he said, his voice low. “I just need time. I’m not going anywhere.”Lila smiled, feeling her heart settle. She didn’t need him to have all the answers right now. She just needed him to be there.“Then, I guess we’re in the same place,” she said softly.Ben’s hand lingered on hers for a moment longer before he pulled away. “I think we are.”A Week Later...The following week was a mix of ups and downs. The café continued to do well, with customers flocking in for their weekly fix of muffins and coffee. Lila and Ben found themselves spending more time together, the air between them growing more comfortable with each passing day. They didn’t have to say much—just a shared smile, a look, a touch here and there—and it was enough.One evening, as they were closing up, Ben looked at her, his expression thoughtful.“You know,” he said, his voice light, “I think this might actually work. Us. The bakery. The muffins. All of it.”Lila’s heart lifted, and she couldn’t help but smile. “I think you might be right.”Ben grinned, stepping closer to her. “We’re kind of a good team, aren’t we?”Lila chuckled, feeling the weight of everything lift from her shoulders. “Yeah. I think we are.”And in that moment, with the quiet hum of the café around them and the warmth of Ben’s presence beside her, Lila felt like maybe this was just the beginning. Not just for the bakery, but for something much more.