Chapter 2
Chapter two
Elijah
I had to leave the store.
I couldn’t stay there with her in my arms, with her scent wrapping around me like a damn spell, jasmine and vanilla, sweet and warm, so uniquely her.
I couldn’t handle the heat of her body pressed against mine, those curves that haunt my thoughts, or that smile that knocks the air out of my lungs every single time.
Every day it gets harder to pretend I'm not completely, stupidly in love with her.
Because I am. I've loved her since the moment I saw her, kicking that stubborn door like it owed her money. And every day since, she keeps me trapped in this hellish friend zone, and I have no idea how to climb out.
I know she's been hurt. I don’t have the full story, just glimpses that she gave me over the years, little cracks in her armor.
Nothing physical, from what I gather, but something happened.
Something deep enough to make a woman as incredible as Ava lock away every chance at love and throw away the key.
I walk into the studio and find Ash behind the counter, flipping through the calendar. He looks up, takes one look at me, and sighs like he’s seen this movie before.
“That bad, huh? She didn’t like the cake?”
“She loved it. It’s her favorite.”
“Then why do you look like someone just ran over your dog?”
I lean on the counter, dragging a hand through my hair.
“Because no matter how much space she says she needs, I don’t know how much longer I can keep pretending I’m okay with just being her friend.
Every day it gets harder to be near her without actually having her.
I’m terrified of the day I finally give in and kiss her…
and she pulls away. If that happens, we lose everything.
The friendship, the laughs, the easy comfort, gone. ”
Ash nods, serious now. “You really think she’d reject you? Man, that girl lights up like Times Square when you’re around. She’s into you. But yeah, she’s scared, maybe even more than you are. Somebody hurt her badly.”
“It’s more than fear. She’s walled herself off completely. No love, no relationships, nothing real beyond friendship. And I don’t know how the hell to tear those walls down.”
Ash leans on the counter, meeting my eyes. “You want advice?”
I nod.
“Then keep doing what you’re doing. Be the guy who's always there. The one who never lets her down. Sooner or later, she'll see you for what you are, everything she needs.”
I don’t say anything. What is there to say?
I just nod again, then turn and walk toward my office, dragging the weight of this longing with me.
Caught somewhere between the comfort of what we have…
And the ache for what I wish we could be.
The rest of the day passes without incident. I see the two clients I had scheduled and take the opportunity to tackle the mountain of paperwork that comes with owning a tattoo studio.
When I glance at the clock, it’s nearly 5:30. Ava’s shop officially closed thirty minutes ago, but I know she’s still inside, probably reorganizing shelves, catching up on her own admin work, or, more likely, lost in the pages of a book.
It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve passed by and found her curled up on one of the big armchairs, a blanket thrown over her, sound asleep with a novel open on her chest.
The first time that happened, I scared her half to death knocking on the glass, trying to wake her up and get her home. After that, she gave me a spare key, just in case.
It’s Friday, and I know she has an artist showcase tomorrow.
One of the things that sets Books one of those carefree moments I always cherish.
As the movie starts, she leans slightly toward me, as if gravity is pulling her down.
She doesn't even realize she's doing it. Halfway through, her head bumps into my shoulder and my heart skips a beat.
I look down, and she whispers, without looking up, "Thank you for today."
"For what?"
"For remembering," she says softly. "For everything." I don't say anything right away. I can't. If I speak now, I'll say too much. I'll tell her that I love her. So I nod and place a soft kiss on the top of her head.
She doesn't move, and neither do I. We stay like this for a while: her head resting on my shoulder, her fingers absentmindedly toying with the hem of the blanket, the movie forgotten in the background.
It's one of those silent moments that speak louder than words, the kind that fills a room with unspoken things.
"I can't believe it's been four years," she finally murmurs, without lifting her head.
"You built something incredible," I say. "Books & Beans is you. Warm, a little chaotic, full of stories... and impossible to stay away from."
She lets out a quiet laugh, one of those soft ones that comes from deep within. "You make it sound so much more romantic than it is. Most days I'm knee-deep in bills, shipping, and worrying that Mia's latest date will turn out to be a serial killer."
"It's still romantic," I joke. "In a chaotic, caffeinated kind of way.
" She finally lifts her head, just enough to look me in the eyes.
We're close. So close that I can see the tiny golden flecks in her irises, so close that if I leaned in a little, just a little, I could feel her breath on my lips.
I could steal a kiss and pray she doesn't reject me.
But I don't. Neither does she.