chapter 9

Chapter 8: It had been three days since Ben had dropped his little bombshell—he was pulling back, trying to “figure things out,” as he had put it. Lila spent those days trying to focus on the bakery, but her mind kept wandering back to him. She tried not to overthink it, but the space between them was growing, and she couldn’t help but feel the distance.Ben hadn’t been in the café much lately. The few times he had, it was brief, like he was coming in to get coffee or check on something, but he would disappear just as quickly. The warmth in his eyes, the way he’d been willing to dive into her muffin madness, seemed like it belonged to another person entirely.But today... today felt different.At Ben’s Brew & BakeryLila walked into the café with a stack of freshly printed flyers for the new muffin corner launch. She’d decided to keep the momentum going, even if Ben wasn’t around much. Her dream didn’t need to wait for him to sort through his stuff. She needed to keep moving forward, and she wasn’t about to let anything—or anyone—hold her back.When she entered, she was greeted by the usual cozy hustle of the place: the clinking of cups, the low hum of conversation, and the rich scent of coffee filling the air. She expected to see Grace behind the counter, but instead, she saw Ben standing there, looking oddly... intent.“Hey, Lila,” he greeted, not looking up immediately. “How’s it going?”Lila raised an eyebrow as she approached the counter. He looked up and flashed her a smile, and this time, it didn’t feel like the awkward, distant Ben she’d been seeing lately. It was more like the Ben who’d made her laugh, the one who wasn’t afraid to get messy with frosting and sprinkles.“Hey, Ben. What’s up? You look like you’re deep in thought over there.”He chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Actually... I was thinking about your muffin corner. I want to help. I don’t want to just be on the sidelines anymore. I might not have it all figured out yet, but I don’t want to just fade away from this.”Lila’s heart gave a small flutter. “Wait, you’re serious?”Ben nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been going through a lot, but I don’t want to let the bakery idea slip away. I can’t promise I’ll be around all the time, but I want to help you. I really do.”Lila’s face softened. “I didn’t expect you to say that.”“Honestly, neither did I,” Ben admitted, a little sheepish. “But... I’ve been thinking. You’re really passionate about this, and I don’t want to be the guy who pulls away just when you’re starting to shine. So, here I am—on board, in my own weird way.”Lila smiled, feeling a sense of relief. “That’s all I wanted, Ben. To know you were still in it. Even if you’re not ready to jump in full throttle yet. It’s all about the little steps.”He smiled back, though his eyes were still a little guarded. “Yeah. Baby steps. So, what’s next? What’s on the agenda for this ‘muffin corner’?”Lila felt the nervousness she’d been holding onto melt away. “Well, I’ve got these flyers for the launch. I’m thinking we could do a soft opening next week—nothing big, just a little preview for the regulars and some of the loyal customers. Maybe a few of your regulars would be interested?”Ben’s eyes twinkled. “I’m pretty sure I can talk them into it. I know a few people who live for coffee and muffins. But we need to make sure the muffins live up to the hype.”Lila laughed. “Trust me, Ben, I’ve got the muffins covered. It’s just... everything else I’m trying to figure out. I want this to be something people remember. Something they can’t stop talking about.”“Then, let’s make it memorable.” Ben stepped forward, leaning a little closer as if he was about to tell her a secret. “But, if we’re doing this right, we need to have some kind of ‘secret muffin’ on the menu—something no one knows about but everyone has to try.”Lila’s eyes lit up. “That’s brilliant. A secret muffin. Like a surprise flavor that changes every week?”Ben nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. Keep ‘em guessing.”Her heart warmed, and before she could stop herself, she reached out and gently touched his arm. “Ben, that’s such a good idea. Thank you.”He froze for a moment, his eyes meeting hers. There was something in his gaze—an unspoken understanding that passed between them. It was a momentary spark, like the briefest flash of something more. But just as quickly, it faded, and Ben cleared his throat, stepping back.“No problem. Just doing my part,” he said, trying to play it cool again.Lila didn’t pull away immediately. She let her fingers linger on his arm for just a second longer, her pulse quickening. The connection was there. It was small, maybe imperceptible to anyone else, but to her, it was a sign that things were slowly shifting. But she didn’t want to rush it—not this time.She smiled at him. “Alright, let’s start planning that secret muffin.”Ben’s smile in return was genuine, almost shy. “Alright. But I’m still not giving away the secret to you just yet.”Lila laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it. But I do have one request for the soft opening.”“Shoot.”“Can we make the secret muffin... chocolate? I feel like chocolate is always the right answer.”Ben grinned. “Deal. I’ll work on my ‘secret muffin recipe’ tonight. Just don’t tell anyone, okay?”“I won’t,” Lila promised, smiling back. “This is going to be so fun.”Later That Day...By the time the café quieted down for the night, Lila was buzzing with energy. Ben had stayed for a while, working on the details of the “secret muffin,” helping her tweak the flyer designs, and even brainstorming ideas for future events. They’d made a great team, without all the weirdness that had lingered before.As she wiped down the counters and got ready to leave, Ben walked over to her, his hand holding a small paper bag.“Here,” he said, handing it to her. “I made a little something for you to try.”Lila took the bag, a little surprised. “What’s this?”He gave her a shy smile. “Just a muffin. I thought it might inspire you for tomorrow.”She opened the bag, and the sweet scent of chocolate and caramel hit her immediately. Inside was the most beautiful muffin she’d ever seen—golden, glistening with a light drizzle of caramel sauce on top.Lila took a bite, and immediately, she felt her taste buds explode with delight. “Ben... this is amazing.”He shrugged, looking bashful. “It’s a work in progress. But I’m glad you like it.”She smiled up at him, her heart warmed by the simple, yet sweet gesture. “It’s perfect. And you’re right. I think this will be our secret muffin.”Ben’s face softened, and for a moment, Lila saw the person she’d been hoping to see all along—the one who was willing to step in, to be vulnerable, and share something sweet, without all the pressure.“I’m glad you think so,” Ben said quietly. He looked down at the floor for a moment before meeting her eyes again. “Maybe... maybe we could try this whole ‘being a team’ thing for real, you know? Not just with muffins.”Lila’s heart skipped a beat, but instead of jumping into the deep end, she smiled gently, taking her time. “I’d like that. I really would.”