Page 58 of Never To Forever

She sighs and pushes to her feet, struggling a bit as she finds her balance with her belly.

“Give it some thought.” She moves around the table and places a kiss on the top of my head. “Whatever you figure out, make sure it actually means something to her, okay? It has to have an impact.”

She puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes before walking away and out of the shop.

I watch her through the front window and suddenly, Christian appears, popping out from around the shop’s corner. Haven is obviously surprised, jumps, smacks him on the shoulder, and scolds him, though I can’t tell what she’s saying. However, the next moment, she grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him down into a kiss before smacking him again. He grins sheepishly, and the two start heading down the sidewalk together and out of sight.

Shaking my head, I chuckle and settle back in my chair. Alone with my thoughts, I still have no idea what kind of gesture would be grand enough to prove my feelings to Marie, but I’m determined to figure it out.

* * *

I don’t stay much longer at the coffee shop. As I drive home, the passing scenery barely registers. My mind is elsewhere, turning over every idea, every possible way to show Marie that I care. She deserves more than an apology. She deserves proof that I’m all in.

As I pass through downtown, a familiar building catches my eye. The bookstore. Marie’s bookstore.

That’s it!

I nearly miss my turn as the idea takes shape. If reopening her mom’s shop is Marie’s dream, then what better way to show her how much she means to me than by helping her make it happen?

By the time I pull into my driveway, my heart is pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. I sit in the truck, staring at the house but not really seeing it.

Can I actually do this? It’s not like I have experience with bookstores or renovations, but I know people who do. Mason, with his contractor business and experience, could be perfect to help me with this plan.

I pull out my phone and scroll to his number. The line rings twice before his familiar, laid-back voice answers.

“Garrett? What’s up, man?”

“Mason, I need your help,” I say, skipping the small talk.

There’s a pause on the other end. “Okay… what kind of help are we talking about?”

“Marie’s mom’s old boutique,” I say, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I want to renovate it. Fix it up. She’s been wanting to do it for years, but has never had the time or the money.”

“Wait, are you serious?” Mason sounds more intrigued than skeptical, which is a good sign.

“Dead serious. I don’t know the first thing about restoring a shop, but I know you do. I’ll pay you for your time, whatever it takes.”

“We’ll figure all that out, don’t you worry,” Mason says, chuckling. “I’ll give you the friends and family discount or something. But you’ve got to tell me—why the sudden interest in this place?”

“Because I care about her. And I need to prove it to her in a way that matters.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then Mason finally opens his mouth. “All right. I’m in. When do we start?”

A wave of relief washes over me. “Tomorrow, if you’re free. I’ll meet you at the shop, and we can take a look at what needs to be done.”

“Sounds good. I’ll bring my tools and coffee. We’re going to need it.”

I hang up, feeling a flicker of hope for the first time in days. It’s not much yet, just the spark of an idea, but it’s something.

As I head inside, I can’t stop thinking about how Marie’s face might light up when she sees the shop restored. If I can pull this off, maybe it’ll be enough to show her how much she means to me—and that I’m finally ready to let go of the past for a chance at a future with her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

MARIE

The clouds hanglow and heavy in the sky as I steer my car toward Haven’s house. The grayness outside feels like a reflection of the fog that’s settled in my mind these last few days. Garrett hasn’t called and hasn’t texted, and to be fair, I haven’t reached out to him either. Still, after Haven promised to talk to him, I was half-expecting that he’d reach out and apologize or something.

Instead, the silence between us stretches longer with every passing hour, and with it, my hope dwindles. I haven’t even had the heart to throw him the graduation party I promised - it just feels weird to do so when things between us are so strained.

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