11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Archer

The last photo shoot of the day was an easy one, which was a relief because my mind kept drifting to tonight. Normally, I never let myself get distracted at work, but this first date with Crispin felt different. There was something about it that carried more weight than any casual fling or relationship I'd had before. After talking last night, I could feel it—this wasn't going to be just another date. This was something more.

I only hoped Crispin would like what I had planned. We'd spent time together, but tonight was our first real date, and I wanted it to be memorable. The community theater was putting on a play in the park across the street, and I'd also pre-ordered a charcuterie box from Luxe. After picking it up, I dashed upstairs to grab a blanket before heading down to Harmony and Joy.

As I walked toward the yoga studio, a wave of nerves hit me—unexpected and uncharacteristic. I usually kept it cool, but something about tonight had my stomach doing flips. Maybe because, deep down, I knew this date could be something special.

When Crispin walked out of the studio, I had to stop myself from staring. I'd only ever seen him in yoga gear or the casual clothes he wore when making deliveries, but tonight? He looked incredible. Crispin was wearing slim, dark jeans paired with a simple white button-up, the sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing a glimpse of his toned arms. His hair, which was always a bit messy from teaching classes, had a sexy I-woke-up-like-this look that suited him.

"So, where are we going?" he asked.

"I thought we'd have a picnic in the park and watch the play," I said, trying to keep it casual but feeling my nerves creep back in.

Crispin's eyes lit up, and his smile widened. "That sounds perfect. I love picnics." His enthusiasm was like a weight lifting off my shoulders, and I found myself smiling back.

As we walked to the park, the golden light of the setting sun was bathing the city in a soft glow, making everything feel a little more magical. We found a cozy spot under a large oak tree, the kind of place that felt private despite being surrounded by other people setting up for the show. I spread out the blanket, and Crispin immediately noticed the charcuterie box.

"Oh wow, Archer. This looks incredible!"

I flipped open the lid and held it out. "Go ahead, help yourself."

He reached in and pulled out a strawberry, taking a bite as his eyes scanned the assortment of cheeses, meats, and fresh fruits.

"I've seen these on Luxe's menu before but never had an excuse to try one. You really went all out," he said, a hint of teasing in his voice.

"I figured if we were having a picnic, we should do it right," I replied, feeling a little proud of myself for picking something he liked.

We spent the next few minutes talking and picking at the food while we waited for the play to start. Crispin picked up a pickle and glanced at the stage. "You know, I've always wanted to do community theater."

"Really?" I asked, intrigued. "I didn't know that."

"Yeah. I think it'd be fun. Maybe one day I'll audition. Not any time soon, of course, but once the yoga studio is mine, maybe I can find the time." His voice was light, but there was a wistfulness in his tone that made me think he was serious.

As the play started, I felt Crispin's hand brush against mine. I glanced at him, and he gave me this soft, genuine smile that made my heart skip a beat. There was something so natural, so easy about the way we were together, and it felt right. We sat there, hands occasionally touching, sharing quiet laughs and comments during the play, and for the first time in a long time, I let myself just enjoy the moment.

As the play went on, a sense of contentment settled over me. Being with Crispin felt so natural, so easy, that it was as if we'd known each other for years instead of a short while. The connection between us was undeniable.

By the time the sun had fully set and stars began to dot the night sky, I leaned back on my elbows, taking a deep breath. The cool evening air carried the faint scent of fresh grass, and the distant hum of the town filled the spaces between us. Everything about the night felt right—simple but perfect in its own way.

When the play ended, neither of us moved right away. We stayed, letting the crowd thin out around us, savoring the peace. Crispin turned to me, his eyes soft, a gentle smile on his lips.

"Thank you for tonight," he said quietly, his gaze holding mine. "It was truly wonderful."

"I'm glad you liked it. But the night's still young. How about a walk?"

His smile grew, that same warmth lighting up his face, and he nodded without hesitation. We stood and began strolling through the park. The crisp fall air was reason enough for me to wrap my arm around him and pull him close as we walked.

Crispin started telling me stories from his days of food delivery, and I found myself hanging on every word. His eyes sparkled as he recounted some of the crazier deliveries he'd made. I didn't love that he'd had to work so hard, and there was a part of me that wasn't thrilled about how unpredictable—and sometimes unsafe—his job could be. I did enjoy hearing him laugh, though.

I admired the way he found humor in even the most chaotic moments. His ability to turn the absurd into something worth laughing about was something I really liked about him, and I loved the way he found the silver lining in every situation.

Before long, we found ourselves near a small pond. The fountain in the center shimmered under the moonlight, the soft splashing of water adding a serene soundtrack to the moment. It was beautiful, and for a second, I wished I had my camera with me to capture the scene. But then I looked at Crispin, and I realized something—it had been a long time since I'd lived a moment instead of trying to capture it through a lens. Being with him made me want to experience things fully, not just observe them. He made me want to be present.

I stopped walking, turning to face him. My hand tightened around his as I pulled him closer. "Has anyone ever told you you're beautiful?" I asked softly.

Crispin's eyes widened a little, and he ducked his chin, shaking his head. "Not and meant it."

I reached out, gently tilting his chin up with my finger until his gaze met mine. "Well, baby boy, I mean it," I whispered, my voice low, but steady.

His breath hitched just slightly as I leaned down, brushing my lips across his in the lightest of kisses. It wasn't hurried or desperate, just slow and soft, filled with all the tenderness I felt. Crispin sighed, and when our lips parted, he let his forehead rest against my chest, his hands wrapping around my waist.

Crispin

Archer had called me beautiful but didn't even try to get down my pants. He'd complimented me because he'd meant it. And a picnic? How freaking romantic was that? His broody mask hid a big ol' marshmallow, and I was so here for it.

Deciding to stop in at Bram's bakery again, I saw Elton sitting at the same table as yesterday, but this time, he had on bright pajama bottoms with some kind of cartoon character on them. I held in a giggle. This guy looked like my kind of people. There was a college-aged girl working at the counter today, so I quickly ordered a tea before Archer's friend spotted me and convinced me that I needed food for breakfast. That scone was delicious, but I really wasn't that hungry in the mornings.

As I paid and headed out, my gaze was drawn back to Elton, and I thought about my renewed vision after talking to Aziza yesterday morning. I wanted to help people and make a difference, and there was something so lonely about Elton. Squaring my shoulders, I approached his table. "Good morning."

He startled, dropping the fidget in his hands, then stared up at me. "Hello?" he asked questioningly.

I took a breath for courage. "So, this might sound weird, but I'm the—"

"You run Harmony and Joy," he said, cutting me off.

I sighed with relief that he recognized me and didn't think I was some rando. "So you've seen me before?"

He nodded. "Of course. I live in the building, so I've passed your shop plenty of times. I noticed you walking with that hot Daddy down the stairway a couple nights ago, too." He slapped his hand over his mouth, and his cheeks went bright red. "Sorry. Was that rude?"

I giggled. "No. He really is a hot Daddy, isn't he?"

"He really is. There's a few of them around here," he said.

We both glanced over at Bram as he came out of his kitchen and snickered. "Well, I have an Easy Flow Yoga class this morning, so I need to get going, but I wanted to know if you'd like to come. It's slow-paced, and we concentrate on our breathing. It's a great way to center yourself and tackle the day ahead with a clear mind."

His eyes widened. "You want me there?"

"It would be a complimentary class," I assured him. He lived here, so I didn't assume he lacked money. This was a swanky place. But how did I really know?

Elton tilted his head and stared at me thoughtfully. "Sure, why not? I'm not accomplishing anything here anyway." His coffee, in a regular ceramic mug instead of the to-go cup I had, looked untouched. He stood up and deposited it in a little bin off to the side for dirty dishes. Yay. He really was coming with me.

"Thanks for inviting me," he said as we walked over to my studio. "I've thought about taking a class before, but when I checked online, there was no website. I don't know a lot about yoga, so I was scared I'd end up in a class that was too complicated for me and make a fool out of myself."

" Ugh ." I smacked a hand to my forehead. "Archer told me I needed a website."

Elton bumped my shoulder lightly with his. "What else did he tell you?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

And like that, I thought perhaps I'd made a new friend. Could life get any better?

"Wow, this place is even better from inside," Elton said, scanning the room from the front door.

"I'm so happy you like it. You can take your shoes off right there, and I'll get you set up for the class."

Elton toed off his shoes. "I don't need to bring my own stuff?"

"You're more than welcome to, but I have yoga mats, blocks, pillows, and blankets that you can use here."

"This is really impressive, Crispin."

"I'm so happy you like it," I said, humbled by the awe in his voice. He helped me grab everything, and then I set him up right in front of the spot where I'd be.

He stared hesitantly down at the yoga mat, then looked around the room and back to me. "I'm upfront? Will everyone stare at me? I really don't know what I'm doing."

I understood exactly what he meant. That was how I'd felt in the beginning. "That's why I put you right in front of me. That way, you'll be able to see my movements easily, and if we need to make any quick adjustments, I'll help you. And don't worry about anyone judging you or anything. Everyone is super nice. My energy draws in kind people. You'll see."

Elton exhaled a long breath. "You know what? I'm going to trust you."

Two women entered the studio, and I waved over at them. Elton shooed me off. "Go ahead and do whatever else you need to do. I'll be fine." He sat down cross-legged in the middle of the mat and smiled up at me.

Feeling like he was fine, I rushed around, greeted the others as they came in, lit incense, and prepared myself for the day.

It was the perfect first class for Elton, and he did wonderfully. Judging by how relaxed he was when we were done, I knew I'd done the right thing putting myself out there and inviting him.

My favorite trio of friends who attended this class religiously welcomed him warmly the second they found out it was his first class. I couldn't even get to him immediately after to ask him if he'd enjoyed it because they were peppering him with questions and showering him with encouragement. I cracked up when I saw them dragging him over to the check-in desk to show him the weekly schedule and explain the different classes I offered. I told him everyone would be friendly.

As soon as we were alone, Elton grabbed both my hands between his. "Thank you for inviting me today. This was awesome. Not only is my neck finally moving, but I had a great idea for my next chapter. This was just fabulous." He let me go and ran over, bending down to slip on his shoes. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I want to get up to my office so I can start jotting down notes. You have a new believer in me, so I'll be back."

With that, he dashed out the door. I chuckled, hoping that he meant it and really would be back.