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“And in this corner, you can put the little photo station you have in the other shop,” I added. “Imagine it with ring lights and a mirror, maybe a trellis with fake ivy, set it up to look like an outside patio. A neon sign with your shop name.”

We started playing off one another, bouncing ideas back and forth, Ellis’s eyes lighting up as we talked. I buzzed with excitement as the plans built on themselves. Envisioning a space coming together was one of my favorite feelings in the world, and doing this with Ellis by my side was… well, it was nice.

Realizing we hadn’t heard from Warren in a minute, I looked around and spotted him outside, on the phone, pacing back and forth on the sidewalk. I stepped closer to Ellis and stood next to him. Warmth radiated from his body and where our arms nearly touched, it felt as if electricity crackled between us. My heart caught in my throat.

“What do you think?” I asked softly.

He looked at me. As he did, his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “It’s…” He blinked a couple of times and looked away. “I don’t know.”

“This could be yours. We can make it yours.” I heard the intensity in my own voice.

“It’s expensive. What if nobody wants to come here?”

“You have a steady clientèle. That’s not going to happen.”

“I’ve only been back a few months. It’s too soon.”

I chuckled quietly. “It’s never too soon to follow your dreams.”

Ellis turned toward me, his dark eyes boring into my soul. “Thank you for believing in me.”

My chest tightened and instinctively, I stepped closer, until we were nearly touching.

“Kier…”

I nodded, barely breathing.

And then, Ellis’s phone rang, breaking the moment.

He stepped back and blinked a few times. His phone rang again and he swore under his breath. He pulled it out of his pocket and glared at it. “Eva,” he said after a moment.

“Do you… I mean… do you have to answer it?”

“I’ll be right back.” His voice was tight and angry as he stormed outside, leaving me alone in the empty space.

A minute later, Warren came inside again. “Well, have we made a decision?”

I smiled weakly at him. “Not quite. He had to take a call.”

Warren nodded in understanding. “Not a problem.”

My thoughts drifted to Eva as I walked the space again. This wasn’t the first time she’d called. It wasn’t the first time she’d interrupted what felt like an intense moment between Ellis and me. He said she wasn’t in his life anymore, but for some reason she kept calling, kept pushing, kept reaching out. I couldn’t help but wonder what that meant.

Warren and I waited—not very patiently, at least on my part—for Ellis to return. When he came back, his face was stony and his demeanor was cold.

“I’m sorry about that,” he muttered. A beat passed and he sighed, but before he could speak again, Warren did.

“What do you think of the place?”

I narrowed my eyes. What timing, Warren. Read the room. Ellis’s expression seemed to say the same.

“I don’t know. I’m going to need some time to think about it, if that’s okay.”

Warren nodded. “Of course. You have my number. Call me when you’re ready to decide.”

We followed him out onto the sidewalk and I watched as he locked up, Ellis glaring at his phone as he texted someone.

“Thanks again,” I said, shaking Warren’s hand.