chapter 14

Chapter 13: The next few days were quiet. The tension between Lila and Ben had settled, but there was still a new layer of uncertainty in the air. Lila couldn’t help but replay the moment with Emily over and over in her head, trying to figure out why it bothered her so much. She trusted Ben, she really did. But that lingering feeling—the one that made her second-guess her own thoughts—was something she couldn’t easily shake off.She kept telling herself that everything would be fine. That Emily was in the past. That Ben had made it clear there was nothing between them now. But even so, Lila couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the story.She was standing behind the counter, glazing the batch of lemon scones she’d just pulled from the oven, when Grace came in, looking like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Grace wasn’t exactly the type to let things get to her, so Lila was immediately concerned.“Grace? You good?” she asked, brushing flour off her hands as she turned to face her friend.Grace gave her a half-smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m good. Just... thinking about things.”Lila raised an eyebrow. “What things? You’re not breaking up with muffins, are you? Because I can’t handle that kind of drama.”Grace chuckled lightly, but the smile faded quickly. “Actually... maybe I should be breaking up with muffins. Or at least... the idea of ‘the perfect life.’”Lila paused, a bit taken aback. “What do you mean?”“I don’t know,” Grace said, shaking her head. “I’ve been talking to this guy for a while now. You know, the one I mentioned last week? The lawyer?”Lila nodded, trying to hide her curiosity. “Yeah. How’s that going?”Grace bit her lip, her hands moving to her hips as she paced slightly. “Well, turns out... he’s not exactly who I thought he was. Not in a bad way, just... not what I expected.”Lila frowned. “In what way?”“He’s been talking about his ex a lot,” Grace said, her tone skeptical. “And not in a ‘we’ve been through some stuff’ way, but in a ‘I miss her’ way. And, Lila, I get that people have history, but... I don’t know. It just feels like he’s still hung up on her. Like I’m some sort of rebound, you know?”Lila’s heart went out to her friend. “Oh no. That’s gotta sting.”“Yeah. And it makes me second-guess myself. Like, if he’s still comparing me to her, am I even in the right place for this? Am I just filling in the gaps for him?” Grace sighed heavily. “I hate that I’m even thinking about it like this. I know he’s a great guy, but... I don’t know if I’m ready to fight someone’s past just to have a future.”Lila set the scone glaze down and stepped over to Grace, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Grace, it’s okay to not want to deal with someone else’s emotional baggage. You’re not the rebound. You’re you. And you deserve someone who’s as present with you as you are with them.”Grace looked at Lila, a small, grateful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Thanks. I think I needed to hear that.”“No problem.” Lila squeezed her shoulder. “Now, what are you going to do about it?”“I think I need some space,” Grace said, her voice steady. “Like, maybe take a step back and see if he can figure out his own stuff before I get too invested.”Lila nodded. “Smart move.”Grace grinned. “And if he can’t figure it out, then I’ll be free to fall in love with muffins all over again.”Lila laughed, and the tension that had settled around her chest seemed to loosen for the first time in days. “I love that idea. Fall in love with muffins—just leave the emotional drama to the lawyers.”Grace chuckled, but then, her expression turned serious again. “But hey... you and Ben? You two are good, right?”Lila hesitated for a moment, her thoughts drifting back to the Emily situation. “We’re... working on it. I trust him. But there’s some stuff from his past I’m not sure I’m fully ready to deal with yet.”Grace raised an eyebrow, her gaze knowing. “Is that what’s making things feel weird between you two?”Lila nodded slowly. “I think so. It’s like... there’s a part of me that feels like I’m waiting for something to happen. Like, I’m holding my breath.”Grace tilted her head, considering this. “You don’t have to rush it, you know. I think sometimes we get so caught up in expecting things to move fast, but love—real love—it’s a slow-burn kind of thing.”Lila frowned, processing what Grace had said. “I want it to be slow. I just... sometimes wonder if I’m in over my head.”“You’re not,” Grace said firmly. “You’re exactly where you need to be. And Ben? I can see it in his eyes. He’s into you. But just like you, he’s got some walls up. You just have to be patient.”Lila smiled softly, the knot in her stomach easing just a little. “I guess I can do patient. I mean, I’ve already been doing it with the muffins, right?”Grace laughed. “Exactly. Who knew muffins were the key to everything?”---The Next Day...The day was calm, peaceful. Lila had put aside her worries, focused on the present moment, and even joked with Ben about the endless stream of muffin orders. It was one of those days where everything felt in sync—no tension, just the steady rhythm of work, quiet conversation, and the occasional laughter from the back of the café.It was just before closing when Ben stepped out from the back, wiping his hands on a dish towel. His gaze met Lila’s, and for a moment, there was something in the way he looked at her that made her heart flutter. It wasn’t anything huge—no grand declaration—but it was something. A quiet, reassuring presence.“You know,” Ben said, as he leaned against the counter, “I’ve been thinking about that muffin idea you had. The one with the butter?”Lila raised an eyebrow, trying to keep a straight face. “Are you seriously still thinking about butter? You know we’ll need to rent a small kitchen just to keep up with demand, right?”Ben grinned, a spark in his eyes. “Well, what if we made it a special muffin? A limited-time-only kind of thing?”Lila tilted her head, intrigued. “I like the sound of that. A muffin with a little mystery.”“Exactly,” Ben said, pushing off the counter. “We could make it a symbol. Like... us.”Lila’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but the thought of them, of their connection, being something special was enough to make her stomach do flips.“A muffin with mystery,” Lila repeated, her voice soft. “I think that’s exactly what we need.”Ben paused for a moment, studying her. And then, without saying another word, he stepped forward, his hand reaching out to gently tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The touch was brief, but it sent a rush of warmth through her chest.“Maybe the best things take time to rise,” he said quietly, his gaze holding hers.Lila smiled, feeling a flutter in her stomach. “Maybe they do.”And just like that, things felt a little less complicated. A little lighter. Like the perfect muffin—slowly rising, ready to be shared.