She opened it to find a sticky note in Oliver’s unmistakable scrawl:
“Meet me at the river in fifteen minutes. I have a challenge for you. — O”
Curiosity piqued, Clara grabbed her raincoat and sketchbook, making her way to the riverbank. There, Oliver waited with two paper cups of steaming coffee and a mischievous grin.
“Challenge?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes,” he said, handing her a cup.“Whoever can skip stones the farthest wins. Loser has to buy dinner tomorrow.”
Clara laughed.“You’re really relying on stone-skipping skills as the measure of competence?”
“You underestimate my focus,” he said, squinting at the river.“And my skill. Watch and learn.”
They spent the next half hour attempting to skip stones, laughing at their failures, and teasing each other mercilessly. Clara discovered that Oliver was annoyingly good at it, while he pretended to struggle dramatically just to hear her laugh.
“Okay, okay,” Clara said, tossing her last stone with a perfect skip. It bounced three times before sinking.“Beat that!”
Oliver’s jaw dropped theatrically.“Impossible! That’s cheating!”
“Not cheating,” she corrected, smiling.“Skill, patience, and practice.”
He shook his head, grinning, and reached over to bump her shoulder playfully.“Fine, you win. But only because you’re tricky and adorable.”
Clara felt her cheeks warm.“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said softly.
As they walked back toward the shop, their arms brushed, sending little sparks of electricity through her. The conversation drifted easily from silly anecdotes to shared memories of childhood summers, and soon, they were inventing inside jokes that only they understood — secret smiles, playful nicknames, and subtle teasing.
By the time they returned to Willow Street, Clara realized that the river challenge was more than just a game. It had been another thread weaving them closer together — trust, laughter, and a growing comfort that neither of them had expected so quickly.
Oliver paused at the shop’s door, his grin softening.“You know, these little moments… they’re my favorite part of summer.”
Clara looked up at him, her heart fluttering.“Mine too,” she admitted, smiling.“Even if you’re impossible half the time.”
He winked.“I’ll take impossible over boring any day.”
And as she watched him disappear up the stairs to his apartment, Clara realized that the chaos Oliver brought into her life was becoming something she couldn’t imagine being without.
Chapter 9:
Shifting Hearts
Clara Bennett had always thought she knew her summer routine. Flowers to arrange, shop to manage, quiet evenings spent sketching in her notebook. Yet lately, her world had been anything but predictable.
It started with small things. The way Oliver’s laugh echoed across the street when he called up from his apartment. The way he paused mid-sentence, watching her with that soft, attentive gaze as if her every word mattered. The way he left tiny surprises — a note, a flower, a cup of coffee — that made her chest warm without her understanding why.
One sunny afternoon, Clara found herself outside arranging a new flower display when Oliver appeared on the steps, holding a small bouquet of daisies.
“For you,” he said, grinning sheepishly.“Because you make this street… better.”
Clara blinked, heat creeping into her cheeks.“You’re ridiculous,” she said softly, taking the flowers.
“Maybe,” he admitted, leaning against the railing.“But I’m a ridiculous guy who’s completely addicted to your smile.”
Her breath caught. Clara had heard him flirt before, teasingly, but this… this felt different. Sincere, quiet, and layered with something she couldn’t quite name.
“I… don’t know what to say,” she murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Say you like daisies,” he said, nudging her gently with the bouquet.
