Later that evening, Maplewood's town square buzzed with excitement. Strings of fairy lights crisscrossed above, casting a soft glow over the weekly outdoor market. Stalls lined the cobblestone paths—handmade candles, jars of honey, watercolor paintings—all part of the charm Ethan had grown up with. But tonight, it all blurred together, because Lila was at his side.
"Try this!" she said, pressing a small paper cup of lavender lemonade into his hand. Her eyes sparkled, daring him to object.
Ethan sipped, the floral sweetness lingering on his tongue. "Not bad," he admitted, though his chest tightened at how close she stood, their arms brushing.
"See? I know what's good for you," Lila teased, her laughter bubbling like music.
Jenna had wandered off to browse jewelry, leaving the two of them alone in the crowd. Ethan's heart thudded harder with every passing moment. He wanted to tell her—right here, under the lights, with laughter and music all around. But when he opened his mouth, the words tangled in his throat.
Instead, he asked, "How's the art studio coming along?"
Her face softened. "Better. I've been getting more commissions lately. Sometimes, though…" She hesitated, biting her lip. "Sometimes I feel like people only see me as the cheerful girl with a paintbrush. Not the… real me."
The vulnerability in her voice stunned him. She always seemed so sure of herself, so radiant. For a moment, Ethan caught a glimpse of something deeper, something she rarely let slip.
"I see you, Lila," he said quietly. The words left him before he could stop them.
She looked at him then—really looked—and something flickered in her eyes. Surprise? Curiosity? Maybe even hope.
Before he could say more, Jenna reappeared, holding up a necklace. "Do you think this would suit me?" she asked, breaking the spell.
Lila turned to answer, but Ethan's chest still burned with the weight of what had almost been said. He knew he couldn't keep quiet forever.
And as the three of them strolled beneath the fairy lights, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that tonight had shifted something between him and Lila. 😍😍