Page 18 of Forever In Willow Creek

No more pretending.

Just two people finally telling the truth—with their words, their hearts, and the warmth they shared in silence.

Chapter 14: Growing Together

The next week brought a quiet shift, like the changing of seasons happening from the inside out.

Zoe began her mornings slowly—coffee on the porch, sometimes shared with Luke, sometimes alone with a blanket and the sound of birdsong. She stopped checking her inbox compulsively. Her phone spent more time in drawers than in her hand.

She wasn’t just pausing anymore.

She was staying.

AtSweet Bloom Flowers, Sarah taught her how to arrange seasonal bouquets—wild, uneven, alive. Granny Mae handed her a clipboard and put her in charge of organizing the vendor lineup for the Winter Market. And at Harrison Auto Repair, Luke handed her a rag and showed her how to change the oil in her own car.

“I swear, if I mess this up, you’re legally required to fix it,” she said, sleeves rolled up, hands already smudged with grease.

Luke grinned from where he leaned against the workbench. “You’ve got this. Just loosen the filter. Not launch it across the shop.”

Zoe snorted. “No promises.”

She didn’t always understand the parts or the tools. But she liked the rhythm of it—the focus, the satisfaction of watching something broken work again. And she liked the way Luke looked at her when she tried. Like he was proud of her, not for getting it right, but for showing up in the first place.

They spent their evenings tangled in each other—on the porch swing, in the kitchen, in bed. Their relationship wasn’t fast or perfect, but it was real. Each day they peeled back another layer. Each night they found new ways to sayI see youwithout words.

One afternoon, Zoe brought lunch to the shop—sandwiches and lemonade in a basket she borrowed from Penny.

Luke was underneath a pickup truck, his legs poking out when she walked in.

“I brought food,” she called.

His voice echoed back, amused. “Is it edible?”

“I’ve lived here almost a month now. I’ve earned the right to insult you for that.”

Luke slid out and sat up, grinning. “You really have.”

They ate on the tailgate, feet swinging, the sound of cicadas buzzing around them.

After a few bites, Luke glanced over. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had someone bring me lunchandknow how to check their own oil filter.”

Zoe raised an eyebrow. “Is that your version of romance?”

“Pretty much.”

She laughed and leaned her head against his shoulder. “You ever think about what’s next?”

“For us?”

Zoe nodded.

Luke was quiet for a moment. Then, “Yeah. I think about it more than I say. I am thinking about fixing up that little house on the corner. Starting something with someone who isn’t afraidto build slowly. I think about finding peace… not just passing time.”

Zoe looked up at him. “I think about those things too.”

He turned toward her, brushing a thumb across her cheek. “Then maybe we stop thinking about it and startdoingit.”

She smiled. “Are you asking me to build a life with you, Luke Harrison?”

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