Page 32 of Beanful Wishes

I grab my bag and head out the door, a flutter of excitement in my stomach.

Coffee Loft is bustling as always when I arrive, the afternoon crowd in full swing. I spot Jake behind the counter, his face lighting up as our eyes meet. He gestures towards our usual corner table, where two steaming mugs are already waiting.

"Hey, beautiful," he greets me with a quick kiss as I approach. "Lofty Spiced Vanilla Latte, just how you like it."

"You spoil me," I tease, settling into my seat. "So, what's this news you couldn't wait to share?"

Jake's eyes sparkle with excitement as he leans in. "You know how we've been reaching out to local businesses for the mobile library project?"

I nod, taking a sip of my latte. "Did we get some sponsors?"

"Better," he grins. "Remember that tech startup, InnovatED? They want to partner with us. Not just sponsor, but actually collaborate on the project."

My eyes widen. "Seriously? That's amazing, Jake! What exactly are they proposing?"

"They want to outfit the bus with tablets and e-readers," Jake explains, his enthusiasm infectious. "They're developing an app that can track reading progress, recommend books, even connect kids with online tutoring services. They see the mobile library as the perfect way to test their platform and get it into underserved communities."

I lean back, processing this information. "Wow. That could really take this project to the next level. But..." I hesitate, a thought occurring to me.

Jake's brow furrows slightly. "But what?"

"It's just... won't this change the nature of the project a bit? I mean, we started out wanting to bring physical books to kids who might not have access to them. Adding all this tech... I don't know, doesn't it feel like it's moving away from our original vision?"

Jake nods slowly, considering my words. "I get what you're saying. But think about it this way—we're not replacing the physical books, we're supplementing them. This could open up so many more opportunities for these kids. Imagine being able to access thousands of books at the touch of a button or getting help with homework even if there's no one at home who can tutor them."

I can see the passion in his eyes, the genuine belief that this could make a difference. It's one of the things I love most about him—his unwavering commitment to helping others.

“Besides, did I mention they also want to cover the cost of the school bus?” Jake asks. “Just the used bus. We’re still on the hook for any funds to restore it.”

“That’s generous of them.” I’m wondering how they’ll get enough out of this collaboration to justify the cost of a used school bus. I’ve done the homework. They aren’t exactly cheap.

“It is.” Jake studies me carefully. “Let’s hear them out and see if they come through with the bus. It would be good publicity for them thanks to all the buzz you’ve been creating. Could turn into a mutually beneficial relationship.”

"You're right," I concede, reaching across the table to take his hand. "It's a big change. But if anyone can make it work, it's you."

Jake squeezes my hand, his smile soft. "Us. We're in this together, remember?"

The warmth in his gaze makes my heart skip a beat. It's still hard to believe sometimes, that we've gone from colleagues to... this.

"So," I say, trying to refocus on the project, "what's our next step?"

Jake pulls out his ever-present notebook. "We need to set up a meeting with the InnovatED team, go over their proposals in detail. And we should probably loop in Elena and Mr. Thompson, get their input."

I nod, already making mental notes. "I can reach out to my contact at the school board too. See if we can get their official backing for the project."

As we dive into planning mode, bouncing ideas back and forth, I'm struck by how natural this feels. Working with Jake, building something meaningful together—it's exhilarating.

"Oh," Jake says suddenly, looking up from his notes. "I almost forgot. I got a call from the mayor's office today about the Fall Festival."

I lean forward, intrigued. "What did they say? Are we still on track?"

Jake nods, a hint of excitement in his smile. "More than that. They're thrilled with our plans. The mayor wants to help any way she can. Said it's exactly the kind of positive community engagement they want to showcase."

"That's fantastic, Jake!" I exclaim, genuinely thrilled. "All our hard work is paying off. This festival is going to be amazing."

He reaches across the table, taking my hand in his. "We've come a long way from that first wish, haven't we? I couldn't have done any of this without you, Sophia."

The sincerity in his voice touches something deep inside me. I intertwine our fingers, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. Our eyes meet, and in that moment, the bustling coffee shop seems to fade away. It's just us, connected by more than our joined hands.

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