Graham

It took him three days to convince himself it wasn’t a mistake.

Three days of ignoring the idea.
Of pretending it didn’t gnaw quietly at the edges of his mind.

Invite her.

It sounded so easy.

But for Graham Carter, changing the rules he’d lived by for almost three decades felt like prying up concrete with his bare hands.

Still, something about her stuck with him.
The way she smiled without reservation.
The way Moose trusted him like he belonged.

It chipped at his stubbornness, piece by piece.

Saturday morning, he caught her at The Nook again.
Moose sprawled under her chair, as usual, with his leash looped casually around Tessa’s ankle like a lifeline.

She was scrolling through her camera, flipping through shots, lost in her own world.

He stood there for a beat too long.

“Hey,” he said, clearing his throat.

Tessa looked up, her whole face lighting up. “Morning!”

Graham shifted awkwardly. He had rehearsed this — sort of.

“There’s a market downtown,” he said, stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets. “Farmers, artists, whatever.”

Tessa’s smile widened, intrigued.

“I go sometimes,” he added quickly, before she could say anything. “Usually just grab coffee and get out.”

She tilted her head, studying him.

Was he… nervous?

The thought made her heart flip.

“I was thinking…” he said, forcing the words out, “you might like it.”

A pause.

Not an invitation exactly.
More like an opening.

Tessa grinned, bouncing slightly in her seat. “I’d love to! Moose can come too?”

Graham blinked, as if surprised she hadn’t turned him down or made it weird.
He shrugged. “Sure. Dogs everywhere.”

Moose wagged his tail at the sound of the word dogs, as if giving his personal approval.

“When?” she asked.

“Tomorrow,” Graham said, forcing himself to meet her eyes. “Early. Before it gets crowded.”

Tessa nodded brightly. “Sounds perfect.”

Graham exhaled slowly, feeling something unfamiliar loosen in his chest.

Maybe, just maybe, letting people in wasn’t the disaster he thought it would be.

---

Tessa

She watched him leave, heading upstairs to his office without another word.

Typical Graham — all stoic exit and broody silence.

But he’d asked.
He had asked.

Tessa tucked her camera away, grinning so wide her cheeks hurt.

Moose rested his chin on her foot, tail thumping lazily.

“You’re witnessing history, Moose,” she whispered, reaching down to scratch behind his ears.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.