Page 33 of Beanful Wishes

"We make a pretty good team, don't we?" I say softly, my thumb tracing small circles on the back of his hand.

Jake's eyes soften, his gaze filled with warmth and something deeper that makes my heart skip a beat. "The best," he murmurs, bringing our joined hands to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles.

The tender gesture sends a shiver down my spine, and I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. It's a small act, but somehow more intimate than any public display of affection.

"So," I say, my voice a bit breathless, "what's next on our festival planning list?"

Jake grins, clearly aware of the effect he's had on me. "Well, partner, I think we need to start reaching out to local artists for the community mural project."

As we dive back into planning mode, I marvel at how far we’ve come and how close we’ve grown.

We spend the next hour brainstorming ideas for the festival, our hands remaining linked on the table between us. It's a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about how far we've come and where we're headed.

The community center buzzes with activity as I weave my way through clusters of volunteers, clipboard in hand. The Fall Festival is just two weeks away, and there's still so much to do. Colorful banners proclaiming "Wilmington Wishes" hang from the ceiling, and the walls are covered with drafts of the community mural designs.

"Sophia!" Elena's voice cuts through the chatter. I turn to see her waving me over to a table piled high with books. "Can you believe how many donations we've received for the mobile library?"

I shake my head in amazement. "It's incredible. The community really came through."

As I help Elena sort through the books, categorizing them by age group and genre, I feel a swell of pride. This is what Jake and I had hoped for when we started planning the festival—a true community effort.

"Speaking of the mobile library," Elena says, a mischievous glint in her eye, "how are things going with our resident coffee shop hero?"

I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. "Things are... good. Really good, actually."

Elena grins. "I knew it. You two are perfect for each other."

Before I can respond, I feel a warm hand on the small of my back. "Who's perfect for each other?" Jake's voice, tinged with amusement, makes me jump slightly.

"You two, obviously," Elena says without missing a beat. "Now, make yourself useful and help us with these books."

Jake chuckles, pressing a quick kiss to my temple before grabbing a stack of young adult novels. "Yes, ma'am."

As we work, Jake fills us in on his meeting with the InnovatED team. "They're bringing a prototype of the app to demo at the festival," he says. "They even want to set up a VR station where kids can 'visit' famous libraries around the world."

"That sounds amazing." I’m genuinely impressed. "But won't it overshadow the physical books?"

Jake shakes his head. "I had the same concern, but they've come up with a great solution. The app will actually encourage kids to check out physical books by offering rewards and challenges tied to reading tangible copies."

Elena nods approvingly. "Blending the old with the new. I like it."

As we continue sorting books, the conversation flows easily between the three of us, discussing festival plans and brainstorming ideas for future projects. It strikes me how natural this all feels—working alongside Jake, building something meaningful together.

"Before I forget," Jake says suddenly, turning to me. "My mom called earlier. She wants to come down for the festival."

A flutter of nervousness rises in my stomach. "Mom? That's... wow. Are you okay with that?"

Jake grins, reaching out to squeeze my hand reassuringly. "More than okay. She’s excited to meet you, actually."

"Meet me?" I repeat, my voice higher than usual. "As in, meet your girlfriend?"

His smile softens. "Yeah, if that's alright with you. I may have talked about you. A lot."

Elena chuckles, reminding us of her presence. "Young love. It's adorable."

I roll my eyes at her, but can't help the warm feeling spreading through my chest. "I'd love to meet her," I tell Jake, meaning it despite my nerves.

The rest of the afternoon flies by in a whirlwind of activity. We finish sorting the books, help hang more decorations, and go over the festival layout with the event coordinator. By the time we're done, the sun is setting, casting a warm glow through the community center windows.

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