Page 104 of Back To You

Hey Honey’s has also brought in a lot of customers to all the businesses in the building, and I’m so incredibly proud of Luke. He’s worked his ass off since the grand opening on Bennett’s birthday, and I know having something that’shismeans so much to him.

Not going to lie, it was a little rocky at first because he putsomuch into it, trying to distract himself from dealing with the loss of his brother. His grief was unpredictable, and I didn’t want him to bury it.

It took some time, but he eventually found a healthy balance.

I think Luke sees everything he’s putting into Hey Honey’s as fulfilling a promise he made to himself—and Bennett. Luke is doing whathewants to do while living by the lessons Bennett taught him.

It was really a lesson we all needed because life truly is too short to not chase after the things we want or hold on to things that try to hold us back.

Especially when that thing holding you back is yourself.

Luke works so hard to make Hey Honey’s into something not only he can be proud of but something he knows Bennett would be proud of too.

When I pull into the parking lot, I notice Luke already turned the lights off. The coffee shop closes at eight on weeknights, which isn’t for a few more minutes, so I’m not sure why it already looks like he shut everything down for the night.

It isn’t until I climb out of my car and walk up to the door, looking through the rose wreath vinyl on the glass, that I see he hasn't closed just yet.

He’s waiting for me.

I pull the door open about to ask what the hell is going on, but I can’t.

My mouth goes dry when I see the shop lit up with candles, the welcoming scent of coffee still lingering in the air from another busy day.

I look down to the floor to see a path lined with rose petals.

A path that leads me to the coffee bar where Luke is standing.

He’s in his work attire, jeans and a white t-shirt with his black apron strapped around his waist, a black Sharpie still tucked behind his ear.

He looks like he does after every shift on any normal day.

“Hey, honey,” he says with a grin, so calm and nonchalant. It’s a stark contrast to how fast my heart is starting to beat. The bright smile on his face lights up the room almost as much as the candles, and it makes my knees go weak, the same way it always has.

I know he wants me to walk down this path he set out for me with the rose petals, but I can’t get my feet to move. It’s fitting that, even in a moment like this, I don’t do what he wants me to. It just so happens that Ican’tright now.

I’m too busy spiraling over what the hell is happening.

“Cat got your tongue?” he asks, as he closes the distance between us.

He takes a hand out of his pocket to place his index finger under my chin, closing my mouth I didn’t even know I had left open.

This isn’t actually happening.

He isn’tactuallyabout to do what I think he’s going to.

Right?

No, he wouldn’t choose a random Friday night when I’m just coming to help him close before we get drinks with our friends. I’m still in my stupid scrubs from the day, my hair braided back in two French braids I’m sure are seconds away from falling out.

Thisis not happening tonight.

He places a small kiss on my lips, but I notice he keeps his other hand in the pocket of his apron.

I want to ask him what all of this means, but all thoughts cease when he opens his mouth.

"Well, while I've got you quiet," he starts, smirking. I should give him back my usual sass, but I couldn't even if I wanted to.

No words are coming to mind.

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