It was a quiet morning in Nook — the kind Lucy usually loved.
Soft indie music played from the speakers.
The rich smell of coffee and cinnamon filled the air.
But Lucy’s mind wasn’t calm.

Harper sat across from her at the little back table, sipping a latte with a knowing look.

“You’re spiraling,” Harper said bluntly, setting down her cup.

Lucy poked at her blueberry muffin, feigning innocence.
“I’m just thinking.”

Harper snorted. “You only mutilate muffins when you’re overthinking.”

Lucy sighed and slumped back in her chair.

“I love what’s happening with Miles,” she admitted. “I really do. It’s easy, and fun, and safe.”

Harper raised an eyebrow. “But?”

Lucy hesitated.
“But what if I lose it?” she whispered.
“What if I finally let myself have something this good… and it gets ripped away?”

Harper’s face softened instantly.

“You’re not Mom, Luce,” she said gently.
“And Miles isn’t Dad. You don’t know the ending yet.”

Lucy swallowed against the lump rising in her throat.

“You saw what loving Dad did to her,” she said. “She fell apart. Completely. She couldn’t survive losing him. What if I’m wired the same way?”

Harper reached across the table, squeezing her hand.

“Maybe you are,” she said. “But that’s not weakness. That’s proof you can love that much. And honestly? I think you’d survive. Different. Hurting. But you’d survive.”

Lucy blinked rapidly, fighting the sting in her eyes.

“I don’t want to just survive,” she whispered.

“Then don’t live your life trying to avoid pain,” Harper said softly.
“Live it chasing the things that make you happy — even if they’re terrifying.”

---

Later that afternoon, Lucy found herself restocking the counter when Miles slipped in, two coffees in hand.

She smiled — because she always smiled when she saw him — and took the cup he offered.

“You, okay?” he asked quietly, studying her face.

Lucy nodded, heart thudding.

“Better now,” she said.

And she meant it.

Because sometimes, the fragile things were the ones most worth protecting.
And sometimes, you had to take the risk — even knowing what it might cost.