His Marble Heart

ed the

hop counter, staring out at the blurred street through the front window. The petals in the display case quivered under the slight hum of th

n it rains, she'd learned. Rain makes people nostalgic. Quiet. Private.

and tried not to think about

his eyes had softened when she laughed at his terrible jazz playlis

t echoing in her mind. The rest

med and she stra

wasn'

as J

rushing her hair behind

t replied, pulling her damp coat off.

p, then leaned her elbows o

and I had one of our t

nd unre

quiet and

ced. "I'

ou ever wonder if some peopl

. "You and David h

ding. We're just... standing in th

ent quiet f

What about you? How

r eyes. "Don't

ed. "Fine. H

shop. We talked.

t ta

Just

eyebrow. "But y

idn't

n. "So? Why did

it meant something. I think he didn't kiss me because he didn

. I just don't want to see you fall for s

ed hard. "Ne

ed. Aria was closing up early-there were hardly any deliveries, a

halfway down, she noticed

time. Just a gray coat, collar

ha

door before h

she

t his hands, then up a

s ok

.. in the ne

r just happen to be i

heepish shr

the middle of the shop, as if uncertain where to put his

tea," sh

ounds

g quickly. She was aware of him out there-of his pre

mugs, she found him standing near th

e them?" he aske

flo

nod

make something th

d to a small bouquet-soft orange and cream

d beside h

oem,'" she sai

d to her

e's tension. Like it hasn't

. "Sounds

d for a second, Ar

romantic. But bec

ng here, Ethan?"

paused. "I just w

ded. "Y

t to mess th

n do

'd just handed him someth

sed to thi

her a

to get i

ake you

a while, the smell of tea

ould you come wi

ow

e's something I

. Then reache

," sh

dro

ered black Jeep that looked complete

xpression. "This was my college car. I

ike

o patches of trees and then opened into fields. Eventually, he pul

ted wood. A wraparound porch. Ligh

randfather's," Ethan

ou brought me to your

ou to my fav

. There was a fire crackling in the hearth

on," h

ced the water. The lake was still, dark as ink, reflecti

reathe in the city anymore," he said

him, wrapping

hispered. "It

silence for

kind. The kind t

used to dream abou

at her.

ople who make me feel

didn't

ently tug a loose thread from her coat sleeve. H

t feel a

oked a

looke

ger. Not wit

et reverence of s

d to keep

ither of

ts deserve to last

ace between wanting

haled

iled, jus

something, you

"An unfini