Page 31 of Beary In Love

"That was relevant context!" The ice in Serena's glass clinked as she took a hasty sip.

"Look," Julie said, her tone softening. "If you're not interested in him that way anymore, that's totally fine. But if you are..." She paused, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe it's worth exploring?"

Serena's stomach did a small flip at the suggestion. The truth was, working with Logan these past few days had awakened something she thought long buried. The way his eyes sparkled when he smiled at her successful potions, how his hands moved so confidently yet gently with the animals, even the familiar scent of pine and earth that always seemed to surround him...

"I can't think about that right now," Serena said, pushing those thoughts aside. "There's too much going on with Silas and the sanctuary."

"Since when has life ever given us perfect timing?" Julie grinned. "Besides, you're practically glowing when you talk about him."

"I am not!" Serena protested, though she could feel her cheeks warming.

Serena traced the condensation on her water glass, watching the droplets merge and race down the side. "I just don't trust my judgment anymore, Julie. I mean, look at my track record. Ithought Richard and I would last forever, and that crashed and burned spectacularly."

"Richard was a jerk who didn't appreciate you," Julie said, waving her fork dismissively. "That's on him, not your judgment."

"And Logan and I already failed once." The words caught in Serena's throat. "What if we try again and it's worse? What if I'm just... broken when it comes to relationships?"

"Sweetie." Julie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "The only thing broken is your confidence. The Serena I know would never let one failed marriage stop her from living her life."

Serena fixed her glasses, buying time to collect her thoughts. "It's not just the marriage. When Logan and I were together before, we were so young, so sure of everything. Now..." She gestured vaguely at herself. "I can barely decide what to have for breakfast without second-guessing it."

"So start small," Julie suggested, her eyes twinkling. "Maybe don't jump straight to planning your wedding. Just... see where things go?"

"Julie!" Serena's cheeks burned. "Nobody said anything about weddings."

"The point is," Julie continued, grinning, "you're allowed to be happy. And from what I've seen, working at that sanctuary makes you happy. Logan makes you happy."

The truth of those words settled in Serena's chest. She thought about how great it felt working alongside Logan, the way they'd fallen right back into their old rhythm. How his smile still made her stomach flip, even after all this time.

"Besides," Julie added, "the Serena who turned Logan's fence into a musical flower garden sounds pretty fun to me."

Serena couldn't help but laugh. "That was an accident!"

"But you fixed it. Just like I know you'll figure this out too." Julie's voice softened. "Don't let fear of the past keep you from something that could be pretty amazing in the present."

Serena traced the rim of her water glass. "You're right. I need to stop letting fear run my life."

"That's my girl." Julie beamed.

Serena's phone buzzed. She glanced at the message from Logan: 'Heading your way now. Need your help with another injured owl.'

"And speaking of your ruggedly handsome bear shifter..." Julie wiggled her eyebrows.

"He's not my anything." Serena gathered her potions bag, fighting a smile. "He just needs help with an owl."

"Sure, sure. Go save woodland creatures with your not-anything."

They hugged goodbye and Serena started her walk home. Her mind soon drifted to Logan. The spring breeze carried the scent of blooming dogwood trees, reminding her of those walks they used to take in the woods together.

As she rounded the corner onto Maple Street, her heart skipped a little. Logan's blue pickup was parked in front of her house, and there he was, leaning against the driver's side door. His dark hair ruffled in the wind, and his worn leather jacket stretched across his broad shoulders as he crossed his arms. He hadn't noticed her yet, his attention focused on a cardinal hopping along her fence.

Serena slowed her pace, taking in the sight. The afternoon sun caught the gold flecks in his eyes, and that familiar warmth spread through her chest. He had a smudge of dirt on his jaw, probably from working with the animals, and his boots were muddy from the morning's rain.

Julie's words echoed in her mind: 'Don't let fear of the past keep you from something that could be pretty amazing in the present.'

Looking at Logan now, bathed in spring sunlight and unconsciously humming what she recognized as his ridiculous honey-and-salmon bear cub song, Serena felt something shift inside her. That wall she'd built around her heart developed a tiny crack, letting in a ray of possibility.

She touched her messy bun self-consciously, wishing she'd worn her hair down today. Then she caught herself and smiled. The old Logan had seen her covered in mud after falling into a creek, wearing his oversized flannel shirt, and sporting a spectacular case of poison ivy. A messy bun was hardly going to scare him off.

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