The shop settled back into a quiet rhythm after the customer left, the soft fragrance of flowers filling the room like a calming breath. Amelia and Ethan still stood close, their hands lightly intertwined, neither of them ready to step away from the moment they had created.
Amelia stared down at their linked fingers for a long second, her heart beating steadily—not fast with panic, not shaky with fear, but steady with something warm and new.
"Ethan," she said softly, her voice barely above the hum of the light above them.
"Yes?" he answered, gently tightening his hold on her hand.
She raised her eyes slowly.
"I… don't usually let people touch me this much."
Ethan nodded.
"I know."
"And I don't reach for people," she added quietly.
His thumb brushed delicately over her knuckles.
"I know that too."
She exhaled deeply, like she was letting out something she'd held in for years.
"But with you, I keep… wanting to."
Ethan's expression softened into something that looked almost like awe.
"Amelia," he murmured, "you have no idea how much that means to me."
She looked down, her cheeks warming again. She hadn't meant to confess that much, but the words seemed to unspool on their own around him.
"Do you ever get scared?" she asked softly.
Ethan tilted his head slightly, considering her question.
"Scared?" he echoed.
"Yes. But not of you. Not of this."
"Then of what?" she asked.
He paused, voice growing quieter, gentler.
"Of wanting you too much."
Her breath caught.
"Is that bad?" she whispered.
"No," he said immediately.
"It's just… I'm used to being in control. I'm used to knowing exactly how I feel and exactly how to handle it."
"And now?" she pressed gently.
"Now I don't want to mess this up," he admitted.
"I don't want to go too fast. I don't want to take a step that could make you pull away."
Amelia's chest softened at the vulnerability in his voice.
"You're not making me pull away," she whispered.
Ethan lifted his gaze, searching her face carefully.
"You're sure?"
She nodded.
"I'm… slowly letting myself want things. And I trust you."
Those last three words—I trust you—hit him harder than anything she'd said so far.
He breathed out slowly, voice barely steady.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"It's the truth."
Silence settled again—gentle, comforting.
The kind of silence that wasn't empty, but full.
Finally, Amelia took a tiny step closer—just enough that their bodies nearly brushed.
Ethan stilled, every part of him softening with emotion.
"Does this feel too close?" she asked quietly.
"No," he breathed.
"It feels right."
She smiled—small, shy, brave.
"I'm… trying to understand how to let someone in like this."
"You're doing it," he said gently.
"Right now. With me."
Amelia's eyes glistened faintly—not tears, but the overwhelmed shimmer of someone experiencing safety in real time.
"Can you tell me something?" she whispered.
"Of course."
"When I… when I get closer," she said, her voice trembling softly,
"What goes through your mind?"
Ethan's jaw tightened with emotion before he answered.
"That I want to be careful with you," he said softly.
"That I want to protect this—what we're building. And that everything in me wants to make sure you feel safe when you're near me."
Amelia swallowed.
"Is that all?"
Ethan hesitated…
then whispered:
"And that I want you.
Not in a rushed way.
Not in a reckless way.
In a slow, real, steady way."
Her breath faltered.
"Ethan…"
He stepped closer—just half an inch, enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath.
"But only if you want that too," he murmured.
Amelia looked up at him, her voice soft and sure.
"I want… you," she whispered.
"Slowly. Steadily. Exactly like this."
Ethan closed his eyes briefly, emotion washing through him.
When he opened them again, his voice was barely a whisper.
"Come here," he said gently.
She did—stepping into him fully, allowing her forehead to rest lightly against his chest this time.
Ethan froze for a moment—utterly overwhelmed.
Then, slowly, carefully, he wrapped his arms around her.
Not tightly.
Not possessively.
Just warm, safe, and steady.
Amelia let out a small, shaky breath, her hands resting lightly against his chest.
"This is okay?" she asked softly.
"This," Ethan murmured into her hair,
"is perfect."
She relaxed fully, melting into the quiet embrace.
For the first time in years, Amelia didn't feel like she was learning how to trust someone.
She felt like she was learning how to be held—
gently, safely, sincerely.
And Ethan held her like he'd been waiting for that moment for a very long time.