Unexpected Love

4.

Stan stood outside the coffee shop, glancing nervously at his watch. He'd arrived ten minutes early, partly because he didn't want to be late, but mostly to make sure he had time to settle his nerves. It had been a long time since he'd done something like this—meeting someone new, especially someone he was interested in. He tugged at the collar of his shirt, feeling awkward in clothes that weren't his usual suit.

Before leaving the Mystery Shack, he'd made sure to cover all his bases. He'd told Mabel and Dipper he was running errands and made it clear they were not to call or show up unless it was an emergency. He wasn't about to let those two ruin his coffee date.

The bell above the door jingled as Liv walked in, and Stan's heart did a little flip. She looked even prettier than he remembered, with her curly brown hair falling in soft waves around her face and a bright smile that seemed to light up the room. She wore a simple, flowy blouse and jeans, comfortable yet flattering.

"Stan, hi!" Liv greeted him warmly.

"Hey, Liv," Stan replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "You look great."

"Thanks! You too," Liv said, glancing at his neatly combed hair and the button-up shirt he wore. "I'm glad we could meet up."

"Yeah, me too," Stan said, holding the door open for her as they entered the cozy café.

The shop was small and inviting, with soft lighting and the rich aroma of coffee in the air. They ordered their drinks—Stan went for a strong black coffee, while Liv opted for a caramel latte—and found a quiet table near the window.

As they sat down, there was a moment of comfortable silence before Liv spoke. "So, how's life at the Mystery Shack?"

"Same old, same old," Stan said with a shrug. "Trying to keep the tourists interested and the place from falling apart. But enough about me—what about you? What do you do when you're not hanging out in bookstores?"

Liv smiled, stirring her latte thoughtfully. "I work remotely for a publishing company, mostly editing manuscripts. It's nice because I get to work from home, but it can get a little lonely sometimes. I love reading and baking, though, so that keeps me busy."

"Sounds peaceful," Stan said, genuinely impressed. "I'm more of a hustle-and-bustle kind of guy, but I can see the appeal."

"It has its perks," Liv admitted, taking a sip of her latte. "But I like getting out when I can—meeting new people, trying new things."

"Speaking of meeting new people," Stan began, feeling a little bold, "I'm glad we bumped into each other at the mall. I don't usually hang out in bookstores, but I think I might start."

Liv chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "I'm glad too. You're full of surprises, Stan."

Stan grinned, feeling more at ease. They continued chatting, with Stan sharing some of his more amusing tales from the Mystery Shack—carefully edited to make him seem a little less like a con artist—and Liv talking about her favorite books and recent baking experiments. The conversation flowed easily, with both of them laughing and enjoying each other's company.

After an hour or so, they finished their drinks, and the conversation naturally wound down. Stan leaned back in his chair, feeling more relaxed than he had in ages. "This was nice," he said. "We should do it again sometime."

Liv smiled, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush. "I'd like that."

As they left the coffee shop, Stan felt a sense of excitement he hadn't felt in years. He didn't know where this would lead, but he was looking forward to finding out. And this time, he was determined to take it slow, enjoy the ride, and see where things went with Liv—without any schemes, tricks, or distractions.

_______________

*few days later*

Stan was finding himself in a situation he hadn't navigated in a long time—liking someone and trying to figure out how much of his life he should reveal. The coffee date with Liv had gone well, better than he'd expected. She was smart, funny, and kind, and he genuinely enjoyed her company. But now, something gnawed at him.

He hadn't mentioned Mabel and Dipper. It wasn't that he was ashamed of being their Grunkle—far from it. He loved those kids like they were his own. But would Liv understand? She seemed the type who'd want someone stable, maybe someone with a normal family life. And here he was, a con man who'd stumbled into the role of a guardian, raising his niece and nephew while hiding a mountain of secrets.

Every time he thought about telling her, the same questions popped into his head. Would she run if she found out he wasn't really a father, just a "Grunkle" trying his best? And what was worse—admitting that he was a makeshift parent, or letting her assume there was no family in his life at all?

Stan mulled over these thoughts as he cleaned up around the Mystery Shack. He knew he couldn't keep the truth from Liv forever, but he didn't want to scare her off too soon. He needed to figure out the right time and the right way to bring it up.

But for now, he decided to keep enjoying their time together, hoping he'd find the courage to tell her everything when the moment was right.