𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 • din djarin

Chapter 3: Racing Hearts

chapter 3: racing hearts •••

Walking through town on a day off is very different—in the best way. You've got the freedom of the entire weekend on your shoulders, time that won't be spent dreading what's to come at the end of the summer and how miserable you know you'll be. You can stop at other people's stalls if you want or even explore beyond the town, pushing into the gorgeous Scespa sights that surround it.

And, best of all, you get to have Din by your side.

He's got the whole day off from training, so he's volunteered to start teaching you some of the things he's learned in his own training. You've had second meal together every day this week, earning the chance to get to know each other even more. The day after Din had offered you the story of his past, you thought it was fair to do the same, realizing that—although you still had your parents—you were both disconnected from them in some way. That shared pain has only brought you closer together. Now, almost every moment is spent thinking of him.

This has caused many interesting conversations with Drinna.

"Backstory on the first date?" Drinna had commented that first day with disbelief, widening her eyes at you as she handed a customer their order. "Oh, honey, he's got it bad for you, don't he?"

"It wasn't a—he's not—!" But you couldn't find a way to argue with what she'd said. "Whatever, Drinna. You're just fantasizing."

Drinna had raised her brow at you in a way that spelled trouble. "Based on the way you've got that sweet smile stuck on your face, darlin', I don't think I'm the one that's fantasizin'."

You had half a mind to lean over and slap her for making such a bold and true statement.

"Your parents gotta' know about him by now, right?" Drinna had asked another day, making you freeze up as you restocked your stall.

"They, uh... why would they?" You'd attempted to shrug it off, resuming your actions stiffly.

"Well, at least your momma's gotta' know when a boy comes into your life!" Drinna had thrown her hands in the air with her statement, putting them on her hips in a motherly manner.

You'd offered her a genuine smile when you responded. "You're the mother who knows about him, Drinna."

She'd cooed with sad delight and given you the sweetest of hugs that day. It was almost enough to heal the deep wounds festering within your heart at the distance between yourself and your "business partners." But, in true Drinna style, she hadn't urged you to mend that relationship. Instead, she began to step into the role gracefully.

"So, tomorrow, huh?" Drinna had asked you yesterday while you were packing up the stall. Evidently, someone had been eavesdropping when Din escorted you after second meal.

"Yeah," you'd responded, smiling stupidly as you thought about the light in Din's eyes when you'd both realized you could have almost a full day together. "Is it okay if I tell my parents you and I are having a spa day or something?"

Drinna had waved her hand with one of her signature and comforting smiles. "You do whatever you gotta' do to be with your man, honey—only if you give me some of the details after the weekend!"

"Of course, Drinna! Who else would get to hear all about it?"

Drinna had laughed and winked at you in a way that made you feel safe for the first time in a long time about being vulnerable. While opening up to Din had been easy, you know that's a rare occurrence to him—which is all the more reason why you suspect you might be growing closer to him than you even know.