The shop was quiet except for the faint buzz of the ceiling fan.
Rowen was tightening the backplate of a phone when the bell chimed.
Lira stepped inside, a light scarf around her neck, her hair loose from the wind. She didn't carry a phone or tablet this time—just herself.
"Evening," she said softly, her voice carrying that calm familiarity that had taken root between them.
"Evening," Rowen replied, setting his screwdriver aside.
She leaned against the counter, the gesture now natural, like she had always belonged there. For a while, they spoke of nothing—small things about the weather, a passing mention of how the town seemed quieter than usual.
Then she came behind the counter without asking.
Rowen didn't move as she leaned closer to look at the phone in his hands. Her shoulder brushed his lightly, and she didn't shift away.
"You're always focused," she said, voice low.
"It's what I do," he said simply.
Her hand came to rest near his on the bench, fingers brushing his knuckles. This time, the touch lingered, a silent question that no one needed to ask aloud.
Rowen didn't move away.
The quiet between them thickened, carrying its own rhythm.
She turned toward him, slow and deliberate. Their faces were close now, her breath soft against his cheek.
The kiss was longer this time, unhurried and calm, their bodies leaning toward each other naturally. There was no rush, no force—just the slow recognition that whatever line they had been circling was now behind them.
When she pulled back, her eyes met his steadily.
"You understand," she said quietly. It wasn't a question.
Rowen gave the smallest nod.
She stayed a while longer, leaning into his side as he closed the last repair for the evening. Their silence felt full instead of empty, warm instead of cold.
When she left, her hand brushed his lightly—a soft confirmation of the path they had chosen.
Rowen locked the shop and stepped into the night air. The familiar streets felt the same, but his quiet carried a pulse now, something that wouldn't leave him even in solitude.