The morning came soft.
Warm sunlight spilled through the shop's dusty windows, golden and quiet. Mira stirred on the worn couch, the blanket tangled around her legs, the unfamiliar comfort of the space grounding her in something real.
She sat up slowly, eyes adjusting to the glow—and there he was.
Jace. In the corner, asleep in his chair, one arm resting on the table, his other hand dangling lazily, fingers twitching in a dream.
For a long moment, she just watched him.
This man who had become a permanent question mark in her life. This man who never asked her to explain herself but somehow understood her silence.
He stirred at the sound of her shifting weight.
"You stayed," he mumbled, voice low and scratchy with sleep.
"You let me," she replied.
He rubbed his face, blinking up at her. "Didn't want to wake you. You looked like you needed the rest."
She offered a faint smile. "You always assume I need fixing."
"No," he said quietly. "Just peace. You look like you haven't had that in a while."
That stopped her. She didn't know how to respond, so she didn't.
Instead, she stood and stretched, walking over to the counter like she belonged there. Jace followed with his eyes, not saying anything. There was something domestic about it all—the shared air, the morning quiet, the closeness that didn't demand anything.
"I should go," she said after a beat.
"You don't have to."
"But I should."
He didn't argue. That made it harder.
Mira turned to him slowly. "Jace... what is this?"
He looked down for a second, then met her eyes. "It's not casual. I know that much."
She exhaled, unsure if that comforted her or terrified her more.
"I don't want to ruin it," she said.
"Me neither," he said. "But we don't get to the good stuff by being scared of it."
"Spoken like a man who doesn't have much to lose."
His jaw tensed. "I've already lost more than you think. That's why I'm not afraid of trying anymore."
Her heart pulled hard at that.
"I want to see where this goes, Mira. Even if it's messy."
She swallowed hard. "I don't do messy well."
"You do real better than anyone I've ever met."
That did it. She stepped toward him. He didn't move, just watched her come close. Her hand found his, fingers curling in quiet understanding.
She wasn't ready for declarations or confessions. But this—this small, real moment—was enough.
"Okay," she whispered. "Let's try."
His smile was the kind that didn't quite reach his lips, but made his eyes shine. "Good."
---
They walked to the front door together. It was strange, how natural it felt. Jace leaned against the frame while she hesitated on the steps.
"I'll see you tonight?" he asked, not demanding, just hoping.
"Yeah," she said. "You will."
And then she turned and walked away, heart thudding like a warning bell and a promise at the same time.
---
She didn't know what this was turning into. But she knew what it wasn't.
It wasn't a fling.
It wasn't a mistake.
And it wasn't over.
Not even close.