sugar & shelves.

Chapter 2: Unexpected Invitations

Sophie watched Ethan walk away, his form retreating into the distance with the kind of casual confidence that made it look easy, like he had nowhere to be but here. Sophie stood in the doorway of the bakery, her fingers still gripping the handle, feeling a little dazed. There was something about him—something easy about the way he talked, the way he made her feel like all her mistakes didn't matter, that had her mind swirling.

Her heart was still beating a little too fast for comfort.

"Okay, Sophie. Get it together," she muttered to herself. She shut the door and turned back to the bakery, trying to focus on the scones in the oven, the cupcakes on the counter, anything to distract her from the unexpected flutter in her chest.

The morning passed in a blur of flour and sugar, the scent of freshly baked pastries filling the little space that she had come to call her own. But every few minutes, her mind wandered back to the way Ethan had smiled at her—genuinely, like he hadn't just seen her in the most embarrassing situation of her week.

It was around mid-morning when the bell above the door jingled again, pulling Sophie out of her thoughts. She looked up, expecting to see the usual crowd of regulars or Mrs. Harper, but instead, it was Ethan, standing in the doorway, looking just as easygoing as he had before.

He held up a cup of coffee, offering it with a smile. "I thought you might need this," he said, his voice warm. "And I figured I'd make up for the mess by bringing you something that wasn't cupcakes for once."

Sophie blinked, a smile tugging at her lips. "I... didn't expect to see you again so soon," she admitted, stepping aside to let him in.

Ethan shrugged with a grin. "I figured if I was going to pick up some cupcakes tomorrow, I might as well get a head start on the caffeine first."

"Caffeine is definitely a good start," Sophie said, grateful for the little bit of humor in his tone. Her smile deepened as she took the coffee from him. The cup was warm in her hands, comforting in a way she didn't expect. "Thank you," she added, still a little surprised by his sudden reappearance.

He nodded and leaned against the counter. "So, about those cupcakes," he said, glancing at the fresh batch of scones Sophie had set out earlier. "You promised me a new batch. Is that offer still standing?"

Sophie's eyebrows lifted. "Wait, you're still serious about that? I didn't think you were actually coming by."

"Did you think I was joking?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I keep my promises, Sophie. I came to collect."

Sophie felt something warm settle in her chest. For a second, she considered pulling him into a conversation about the bakery, about how much pressure she was under, about her aunt's old debts, but instead, she just laughed softly. "Alright, alright. One batch of cupcakes coming up."

She moved to the back to gather the ingredients, and Ethan settled himself in one of the chairs by the window, sipping his coffee, looking far too comfortable for someone who'd only been in her bakery for a few minutes.

As Sophie worked, she found herself glancing over at him every so often. He wasn't just sitting there; he was present, observing the room like he belonged, like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

"Do you always hang out in bakeries with no warning?" Sophie asked as she added the last touch of frosting to a batch of cupcakes, trying to keep her voice light.

Ethan didn't look up from his coffee, but there was an amused lilt in his voice when he replied. "Only the good ones. I've heard a lot about you, Sophie Bennett. Your bakery's got quite the reputation."

"Really?" Sophie's heart skipped, and she set down the frosting knife a little too hard. "Who's been talking about me?"

"The usual suspects. Mrs. Harper, obviously. She's always raving about your cupcakes. And your scones. Did I mention the scones?" He raised his coffee cup with a playful grin. "Those are amazing."

Sophie couldn't help but laugh at the way his praise was so unguarded, so easy. "You're making me blush," she teased, taking a breath before continuing. "You don't have to keep praising me. I'm already doing my best to live up to Mrs. Harper's impossible standards."

Ethan tilted his head, studying her with those soft, dark eyes. "I don't think you need to worry about that," he said quietly, his voice suddenly a little more serious. "It's clear you've got this place running on more than just good pastries. There's something... I don't know... special about it."

Sophie froze for a moment, surprised by his tone. She hadn't expected him to be so observant, so genuinely kind. Most people just came in for the food and left. And while she didn't mind that, she'd never had someone see the effort, the love, the care that went into everything she made. It was an odd feeling—uncomfortable and yet, a little reassuring.

"Well, I'm just trying to make a living," Sophie said with a shrug, though the words didn't feel right on her tongue.

Ethan didn't seem to mind. He just nodded. "I get that," he said, sipping his coffee again. "But I'm just saying... there's something more here. Something that draws people in. Not just the cupcakes, though they're definitely part of it."

Sophie smiled, grateful for the compliment but not sure how to respond. She wasn't used to talking about her work in such a personal way. She loved baking—loved the art of it—but she also carried the weight of making sure the bakery stayed afloat. And sometimes, it was hard to remember why she started doing it in the first place.

"Well," she said, picking up the tray of cupcakes and handing them to him, "I hope you like these just as much as the last ones."

Ethan grinned as he stood to take the tray, his eyes gleaming with the same easy confidence from before. "I'm sure I will. Honestly, I can't imagine you ever making anything I wouldn't like."

Sophie felt her heart skip again. "You're really laying it on thick now," she teased.

Ethan gave a little shrug, his smile softening. "What can I say? I'm a fan of your work."

For a second, Sophie just looked at him, feeling the spark of something new and unfamiliar. It was as though, without even trying, Ethan had made her feel seen—really seen—in a way she hadn't expected. And in the moment, it was enough to make her believe that maybe this strange, unexpected connection wasn't so bad after all.