The Heart's Quite Beginning

Chapter 18: A Chapter of Cozy Escapes

I promised myself, as long as I could remember, to take things slow. I'd learned the hard way that life didn't have to be a constant race—always moving, always striving, always doing. So when I opened Ink & Espresso, I swore I would cling to this one mantra: Saturdays and Sundays were for me. No baking, no work, no worrying about whether the pastries were perfect or if the coffee beans were running low. Just me, unwinding.

Today was special because Nova and Iris had invited me to the Village Library. It was the perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday. No rushing, no to-do lists. Just books, friends, and the quiet hum of a place that felt like it had existed for centuries.

On the way to the library, Nova was practically bouncing with excitement. "You're going to love it, Lia," she said, practically skipping beside me. "The library isn't like the modern ones with all the digital screens and sterile shelves. It's cozy, old-fashioned. You can almost feel the history in the air."

Iris laughed, adjusting her wide-brimmed hat as the sunlight flickered through the trees. "Nova talks about this place like it's some kind of sacred temple."

"It is a sacred temple!" Nova exclaimed. "To books, to stories, to imagination!" She spun around with her arms outstretched before falling back in step with us. "You'll see, Lia. You'll feel it when we get there."

I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. It felt so good to have friends like Nova and Iris—people I could call my own. The realization warmed me. This wasn't just a new town anymore; it was becoming my home, and these two had quickly become part of my family.

We reached the library, a stone building that seemed to be plucked straight out of a fairy tale. Its ivy-covered walls and tall arched windows gave it a sort of mystical charm. When we stepped inside, the smell of aged paper, wood polish, and that indescribable "library air" hit me immediately. It was exactly as Nova had described—warm, inviting, and full of stories waiting to be discovered.

The three of us made our way to the romance section, a corner filled with pastel-colored spines and worn-out paperbacks. I felt my heart flutter with excitement. Romance novels had always been my escape, my guilty pleasure. There was something about getting lost in the sweeping gestures, grand declarations of love, and inevitable happy endings that soothed me.

"I knew this would be your section," Nova teased, pulling a particularly garish-looking book from the shelf and waving it in front of me. "Look at this one—'Love's Untamed Fury'!"

I laughed, reaching for the book and reading the blurb aloud in a dramatic voice, "In a world where passion reigns, can a forbidden love survive the tempest of fate?"

Iris giggled. "Sounds like your kind of drama, Lia."

"Guilty," I admitted, tucking the book back into place. "What can I say? I like my romances with a bit of tempest."

I shot her a playful look and reached for another book, its soft cover adorned with pastel hues and delicate lettering. "Okay, fine. But what about this one?" I held up a slow-burn romance, the kind where love simmers for ages before finally boiling over. "No drama, just a lot of stolen glances and meaningful silences."

Nova turned to me with her own book, glanced up, and gave me a serious nod. "Ah, the slow-burn. A classic choice. You know, some people might call that 'torture.' But not you, Lia. You thrive on the angst."

Iris arched an eyebrow. "Angst? Sounds like an acquired taste."

"Oh, it definitely is," I said with a grin. "But it's the kind of taste that lingers, you know? The anticipation, the build-up—it's like savoring a fine wine."

Nova shook her head, laughing. "Or it's like waiting for your favorite band to release an album. Either way, you're willing to suffer for the reward."

"And sometimes," Iris added with a grin, "the reward is just as fabulous as you imagined. Like when you finally get to the last page and realize that the protagonist's grand romantic gesture was everything you hoped it would be."

"Or when you find out the brooding love interest wasn't as brooding as he seemed, but just a misunderstood soul with a heart of gold," I said with a wink.

"Ah yes," Nova sighed dramatically. "The moment when the hero finally reveals his vulnerabilities, and you're left with a puddle of emotions. It's like the literary equivalent of a hug."

We all laughed, the sound echoing pleasantly through the romance section.

"And don't forget," Iris said, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "the thrill of discovering that one book with a cover so absurdly over-the-top that it becomes an instant favorite. Like this one—" She picked up a book with a title so long it could have been a short novel itself. "*The Enchanted Heart's Delight: A Tale of Two Star-Crossed Lovers in a World Where Magic and Mystery Intertwine.*"

"Wow," Nova said, trying to stifle her laughter. "That's quite a mouthful. It sounds like the author threw every romantic cliche into one book."

I grinned, "And yet, there's something undeniably charming about it. It's like a buffet of romance. How could you not want to dive in?"

Iris and Nova exchanged glances and burst into laughter. "Okay, fine," Iris said. "I'm officially adding this one to my to-read list. It's too deliciously over-the-top to resist."

As we continued our exploration, I found myself increasingly amused by our lighthearted talks. Every book we picked up became a subject of playful debate, from the merits of classic romantic tropes to the virtues of outrageously named novels.

At one point, Nova held up a book titled The Billionaire's Secret Heart. "This one's about a billionaire who hides his artistic side from the world and falls for a woman who thinks he's just a powerful businessman. Classic setup for a roller coaster of emotions—or a perfect modern romance."

"Sounds like a recipe for dramatic revelations," I said. "I'm guessing there's a pivotal moment where she discovers his hidden passion and it's all 'oh, you were so much more than I thought!'"

"Exactly!" Nova said, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "And I bet there's a scene where they have an emotional confrontation at a grand event. Because what's a romance without a big reveal in a high-stakes situation?"

"High-stakes confrontations are practically a genre of their own," Iris agreed. "It's like the ultimate romantic drama. You can almost feel the tension crackling in the air."

We continued to explore the romance section, pulling out books and discussing their plots with an enthusiasm that only true book lovers could muster. Each title, whether classic or quirky, added to the fun of our bookish adventure, and we reveled in the playful banter.

As the afternoon sunlight began to wane, casting a warm, golden glow across the library's wooden floors, I looked around at my friends and felt a deep sense of contentment. This was everything I'd hoped for—relaxation, laughter, and the simple pleasure of discovering new stories together.

But just as I was lost in our cheerful chatter, something caught my eye. There, near one of the shelves, stood Ethan, quietly browsing. A sudden warmth spread through me, and before I could stop myself, a smile tugged at my lips.