Maya watched him walk away, the bell above the door tinkling softly as it closed. She stood there for a moment, the bookshop suddenly feeling a little quieter, a little emptier. Shaking her head with a small smile, she returned to her task of organizing the shelves.
Throughout the day, her thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan. There was something intriguing about him, a curiosity that made her wonder if he would indeed return. As the afternoon sun cast warm light through the shop windows, Maya found herself glancing at the door more often than usual.
Later, as the evening approached and the shop grew quiet, Maya settled into her favorite reading nook with a cup of tea. She reflected on the day's events, her mind wandering back to the brief conversation with Ethan. Perhaps it was the way he seemed genuinely interested in her recommendation or the way his smile reached his eyes.
Just as she was about to delve into her own book, the doorbell chimed again, pulling her from her thoughts. A regular customer entered, and Maya greeted them warmly, but the fleeting hope that it might have been Ethan made her realize she was looking forward to their next encounter.