"I can look after myself," I point out, but there's no heat in it.
"Of course you can. But it's nice not to have to, isn't it?"
I think about Axel, about his steady presence, his quiet strength, the way he supports without controlling. About how, for the first time in my adult life, I'm not carrying everything alone.
"Yeah," I admit softly. "It is."
The bell over the door chimes, and I look up to see Axel standing there, freshly showered, a small bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. His eyes find mine immediately, lighting up like a little kid at the candy store.
"Hey," he says, smiling that crooked smile that never fails to make my stomach flip. "I know I'm early, but I couldn't wait."
Rowan catches my eye, her expression smug.
"And on that note, I think I'll head out. Poppy and I have a date with some ice cream." She scoops up my still-sleeping daughter with practiced ease.
"We'll be at my place whenever you two are… done."
She winks at me as she passes, pausing to murmur something to Axel that makes him laugh. Then she's gone, the bell chiming again as the door closes behind her.
Axel crosses to me, offering the wildflowers with a slightly self-conscious smile. "I saw these on the way over and thought of you."
I take them, burying my nose in the blooms to hide the ridiculously wide smile I can't seem to control. "They're beautiful. Thank you."
"You're beautiful," he counters, his fingers brushing mine as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
The words rise to my lips again, natural as breathing. "I love you."
His eyes widen slightly, like he wasn't expecting to hear it here, now, in the quiet of the café with evening sunlight streaming through the windows. Then his face breaks into a smile so bright it's almost blinding.
"I love you too," he says, drawing me into his arms. "So damn much."
As his lips meet mine, I realize Rowan was right. I don't need to wait for the other shoe to drop. I don't need to brace fordisaster. I just need to be here, now, in this moment with this man who loves me, all of me, even the broken parts, even the scared parts.
For the first time in years, maybe in my entire life, I feel something unfamiliar sink into my bones. Not fear, not vigilance, not the constant need to run.
Peace.
As I melt into his kiss, I forget about the café around us, the half-finished closing tasks, everything except the feel of his lips against mine. When we finally break apart, I'm breathless and a little dizzy.
"I should finish closing up," I murmur, reluctant to step out of his embrace.
"Let me help," he offers, already rolling up his sleeves. "Then I want to show you something."
There's something in his tone, a hint of anticipation, of planning, that makes my pulse quicken. "Show me what?"
His smile is enigmatic, a little secretive. "It's a surprise. Trust me?"
"Yes," I answer without hesitation, surprising myself with how easily the word comes.
We work side by side, finishing the closing routine in comfortable silence. His movements sync with mine naturally, as if we've been doing this together for years instead of minutes. When I reach for the mop, he's already filled the bucket with hot water. When he wipes down the espresso machine, I'm ready with a dry cloth to polish it.
"We make a good team," he says, his eyes soft as he watches me lock the register.
"We do," I agree, feeling a flutter in my stomach at the simple truth of it.
When everything is done, Axel takes my hand, intertwining our fingers as I flip off the lights and lock the door behind us.Instead of heading toward his truck, he tugs me gently in the opposite direction.
"This way," he says, his thumb tracing circles on my palm.
