Page 13 of Unspoken Love

Faye blinked until the sleep cleared from her eyes. Sunlight was streaming into the room, and she lay there enjoying the sound of birdsong just outside the open window. A cool breeze drifted in, carrying with it the scent of salt, pine, and something faintly floral.

She stretched beneath the soft comforter, then sat up slowly, letting herself linger in the quiet. There was something magical about mornings here—something she hadn’t realized that she was missing until she’d come to Pride.

Slipping into jeans, a hoodie, and her worn hiking boots, she headed downstairs, grabbed a cup of coffee, and stepped outside.

Mist clung to the trees in the distance, and the trails that wove through the property called to her.

She didn’t hesitate.

The woods were lush with tall firs and tangled underbrush, and the soft crunch of twigs underfoot was soothing as she made her way down the pathway. She wandered for nearly half an hour, letting her thoughts drift with the filtered light. A squirrel darted across the trail. Somewhere high above, a hawk called.

The stillness steadied her.

Eventually, her stomach gave a low growl, and she made her way back to the house, brushing the dew off her sleeves as she walked. She made herself a simple breakfast—eggs and toast with local jam—then stood at the kitchen sink sipping the last of her coffee, watching the clouds slowly float over the water.

She could’ve stayed there all day, but something inside tugged at her. The need for a little movement. A little community.

She hadn’t been into town much since arriving. And it had been days since she’d seen Nate—aside from that quick jog on the beach the morning before.

She wasn’t ready to admit that she missed talking to him. Not even to herself.

But she did think that a few hours surrounded by books and the smell of coffee sounded…nice.

And if Nate happened to be there? Even better.

She grabbed her bag and locked the front door behind her.

It was time to get out of her own head and around the townspeople that she had chosen to live among. She wondered if there had been rumors circling around about her moving there.

She’d kept to herself when she’d made a run into the store or had stopped in town to get gas. If she was really going to make Pride her home, she had to get out of her comfort zone.

And maybe, just maybe, she could let someone in.

The little brass bell over the Brew-Ha-Ha’s door jingled softly as she stepped inside. Warmth wrapped around her instantly—the scent of espresso, old books, and something cinnamon-dusted that made her stomach rumble despite her recent breakfast.

Inside, the shop was cozy and very inviting, with a mixture of charm and warmth. Sunlight filtered through the front windows and pooled across the wide-planked floors. A teenager with pink-tinted hair and a name tag that read Clover stood behind the counter, wiping it down with practiced indifference.

Faye stepped up to the register.

“Hi. Can I get an iced tea?” she asked, offering a tentative smile.

Clover gave a nod and punched the order into the tablet. “Black, green, or herbal?”

“Green, please. Light ice.”

“Got it.”

While Clover worked the machine, Faye turned to take in the rest of the shop.

The Brew-Ha-Ha was a coffee shop, a wine bar, and a bookstore all in one. It was a place where the community could hang out, a comfort zone wrapped in warm lighting and mismatched shelves. Wooden bookcases stretched along the side walls, crammed with everything from battered paperbacks to new-release hardcovers. In the back, near the center of the shop, stood a circular stone hearth with a fireplace. It was surrounded by four well-worn leather chairs arranged in a loose circle. A colorful rug sat beneath them, softening the hardwood and giving the area a living-room feel.

There were small touches everywhere. Framed funny quotes about books and coffee hung on every wall. Behind the counter, a chalkboard hung overhead with the day’s specials written in loopy handwriting. There were even string lights stretching overhead, lighting the room with a soft warm glow.

Faye picked up her tea when Clover called it out, then she wandered slowly past the fiction shelves. Her fingertips drifted over spines as she walked, but her gaze kept tugging toward the windows.

Nate wasn’t here. Maybe he was on his break? That meant he was probably up at her place right now with the horses.

She purchased a newer book that she’d wanted to read and then sat down in a booth by the window that overlooked the main street of town.