Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Jake

T he excited chatter of kids fills the air when I look around Mr. Thompson's classroom, my heart racing with a mix of nervousness and pride. The Reading Oasis is finally ready for its grand unveiling, and the room is packed with students, teachers, and local media.

I catch Sophia's eye from where she stands with her camera crew. She smiles and gives me a nod. Taking a deep breath, I step forward to address the crowd.

"Good morning, everyone," I say. "Thank you for being here today. What started as a simple wish on our Coffee Loft wall has blossomed into something truly extraordinary, thanks to the incredible support of this community."

As I speak, I take in the full extent of the transformation of the classroom. Colorful bookshelves line the walls, filled with an eclectic mix of titles. Comfortable bean bags and reading nooks are scattered around the room, and the interactive literary mural we brainstormed covers one entire wall.

"This Reading Oasis is more than just a room full of books," I continue. "It's a testament to what we can achieve when we come together, when we listen to each other's wishes and dreams, and when we work to make those dreams a reality."

I gesture to Mr. Thompson, who steps forward with a wide grin. "None of this would have been possible without Mr. Thompson's vision and dedication to his students. I'd like to invite him to say a few words."

As Mr. Thompson takes over, eloquently expressing his gratitude and excitement, I find my gaze drawn back to Sophia. She's watching the proceedings with rapt attention, her eyes shining with emotion. My heart swells with affection for her, remembering how instrumental she's been in bringing this project to life.

After Mr. Thompson finishes speaking, it's time for the official ribbon-cutting. We invite one of the students, a shy girl named Emery, to do the honors. As the red ribbon falls away, the room erupts in applause and cheers.

The students pour into the Reading Oasis, pulling out books and settling into the cozy reading spots. I stand back, watching with a sense of wonder as the room comes alive with excitement and curiosity.

Sophia sidles up to me, slipping her hand into mine. "You did it, Jake," she murmurs, her voice filled with pride.

I squeeze her hand gently. "We did it," I say. "I couldn't have done this without you."

She leans her head against my shoulder for a moment, and I relish the warmth of her closeness. We stay like that for a while, watching as Mr. Thompson guides students through the new space, showing them how to use the interactive elements and helping them choose books.

As the initial excitement starts to settle, I notice Elena from the bookstore entering the classroom, her arms laden with a stack of new books. She catches my eye and beckons me over.

"Jake, Sophia," she greets us warmly. "This is incredible. You've really outdone yourselves."

"Thanks, Elena," I reply. "And thank you for all your help with the book donations. It made a huge difference."

Elena waves off my thanks. "It was my pleasure. Actually, I wanted to talk to you both about something." She lowers her voice conspiratorially. "I've had an idea for a new wish, something bigger than anything you've done before."

Sophia leans in, her reporter's instincts clearly piqued. "What kind of wish?"

Elena's eyes sparkle with excitement. "What if we could create a mobile library? A bus converted into a mobile library and reading space. We could bring books and literacy programs to underserved areas of the city."

I feel a jolt of excitement at the idea. "I like it. But it would be a massive undertaking."

"I know," she nods. "That's why I wanted to run it by you first. I thought maybe we could make it a community-wide project, tie it into that fall event you've been planning."

Sophia and I exchange a look, and I can see the same enthusiasm I'm feeling reflected in her eyes. "It's ambitious," she says slowly, "but I think it could work. We could get local businesses involved, maybe even partner with the school district."

As we start brainstorming ideas, the energy between us is palpable. This is what I love about working with Sophia—the way we can bounce ideas off each other, building on each other's thoughts until something magical takes shape.

In the midst of our excited planning, Mr. Thompson approaches us, his face beaming. "I can't thank you enough for all of this," he says, gesturing around the room. "You've made such a difference for these kids."

I feel a lump form in my throat, overwhelmed by the genuine gratitude in his voice. "We're just glad we could help bring your vision to life," I manage to say.

As Mr. Thompson moves away to help another student, I turn back to Sophia and Elena. "So, what do you think? Should we put this mobile library wish up on the wall?"

Sophia grins, her eyes alight with that spark that never fails to captivate me. "Absolutely. Let's make some more wishes come true."

Coffee Loft hums with its usual afternoon bustle as I wipe down the counter, my mind still buzzing from the Reading Oasis unveiling earlier. The bell above the door chimes, and I look up to see Sophia walking in.

"Hey there, handsome," she says, sliding onto a stool at the counter. "One Lofty Spiced Vanilla Latte, please."

I chuckle, already reaching for her favorite mug. "Coming right up. How was the rest of your day?"

As I prepare her drink, Sophia fills me in on the follow-up interviews she conducted after the unveiling. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I find myself grinning as I listen to her recount the students' excited reactions.

"Here you go," I say, sliding the steaming mug across the counter to her. "So, ready to tackle our next big project?"

Sophia's eyes sparkle with excitement. "The mobile library? Absolutely. I've been thinking about it all day."

I glance around the shop, making sure Kathryn has everything under control before joining Sophia on the other side of the counter. "Me too. I've got some ideas I want to run by you."

We move to our usual corner table, and I pull out a notebook filled with rough sketches and notes. "I was thinking we could convert an old school bus," I explain, flipping to a page with a basic design. "We could install bookshelves along the sides, maybe have a small reading nook in the back."

Sophia leans in, her shoulder brushing against mine as she studies the sketch. "This is great, Jake. What if we added a fold-out awning on the side? We could set up chairs outside when the weather's nice."

I quickly jot down her suggestion, our ideas flowing back and forth as we build on each other's thoughts. It's moments like these that I cherish most—the easy collaboration, the shared excitement, the way we instinctively understand each other's vision.

As we talk, I notice how close we're sitting, the warmth of Sophia's leg pressed against mine, the way her hair falls forward as she leans over the notebook. My hand itches to brush it back, cup her cheek, and draw her in for a kiss.

But we're in public, and we agreed to take things slow.

I clear my throat and force my attention back to the task at hand. "We should probably start reaching out to local businesses for sponsorships," I say. "And we'll need to find a bus we can convert."

Sophia nods, seemingly unaware of my internal struggle. "I've got some contacts at the school district. I could start there."

"Perfect," I reply, jotting it down. "I'll talk to Elena about organizing a book drive specifically for the mobile library."

As we continue planning, we move to the fall community event. "We could use the event to publicly launch the mobile library project," Sophia suggests. "Get people excited about it, maybe even start a fundraising campaign."

I like the idea. "We could have a booth set up with information about the project, maybe even have a small-scale model of the bus for people to see."

Sophia's face lights up with another idea. "What if we set up a 'Wish Upon a Book' station? People could write their favorite book titles or reading memories on paper stars and pin them to a big display board."

I laugh. "Look at you, coming up with wishing wall ideas. I'm rubbing off on you."

She grins, playfully bumping her shoulder against mine. "What can I say? You're a bad influence."

Our eyes meet, and for a moment, the bustling coffee shop fades away. There's a softness in Sophia's gaze that makes my heart skip a beat. Without thinking, I reach out and tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Sophia leans into my touch, her eyes never leaving mine. "Jake," she murmurs, her voice low and warm.

I know we're in public, know we should maintain some professional distance, but in this moment, I can't bring myself to care. I lean in slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull away if she wants to.

She doesn't. Instead, she meets me halfway, her lips soft and sweet against mine. The kiss is brief but full of promise, leaving me a little breathless when we part.

"So much for taking it slow," Sophia says with a soft laugh, her cheeks flushed.

I grin, feeling a bit lightheaded. "Hey, I'd say we're practically moving at a snail's pace, all things considered."

She rolls her eyes. "Come on, we should get back to work. We've got a mobile library to plan."

As we return our focus to the notebook in front of us, I feel a sense of contentment wash over me. This thing between Sophia and me, it feels right. Natural. Like two puzzle pieces fitting perfectly together.

The rest of the afternoon flies by in a whirlwind of planning and preparation. By the time the evening crowd starts to trickle in, we have a solid outline for both the mobile library project and the fall community event.

As Sophia gathers her things to leave, I'm struck by a sudden thought. "Hey," I say, catching her hand. "Can we talk for a second?"

She turns back to me, curiosity in her eyes. "Of course. What's up?"

I take a deep breath, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. "I've been thinking... about us."

Sophia's expression softens. "Oh?"

"Yeah," I tug her closer. "I know we said we'd take things slow, but I feel like what we have is special. I want to spend more time with you, Sophia. Not just working on projects, but... everything else too."

A smile plays at the corners of her mouth. "I'd like that, Jake."

"So, I was wondering if maybe you'd want to make this official? Be together, publicly, as a couple?" I ask.

Sophia's eyes widen slightly, but her smile grows. "Are you asking me to be your girlfriend, Jake Harrison?"

The heat rises in my cheeks, but I can't help grinning. "I guess I am. What do you say?"

She pretends to consider it for a moment, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose it would make working on all these projects together more interesting..."

"Oh, is that the only reason?" I tease, pulling her closer.

She grins up at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief and affection. "Well, that and the fact that I'm kind of crazy about you."

My heart soars at her words. "So, is that a yes?"

Instead of answering, Sophia rises on her tiptoes and presses a soft kiss to my lips. "It's a yes," she murmurs against my mouth.