Officially
1195 Words
Snow didn’t stop them from going to Ink & Ember the next morning.
If anything, it gave them an excuse to walk too close.
Mia arrived with her scarf crooked and her hair still smelling faintly of soap and steam. Ethan opened the door for her like he always did, but this time their hands brushed and neither of them pretended it was an accident.
“You look… different,” he said.
“You look like you didn’t sleep,” she replied.
“Romantic.”
“You’re glowing,” he added. “Like someone who survived plumbing.”
She smirked. “And emotional vulnerability.”
Inside, the shop felt warmer than usual. The lights were already on, and the smell of coffee mixed with cinnamon like it was trying to trap winter outside.
They worked side by side.
Too close.
She reached for a book, and he reached for the same one.
“Personal space,” she warned.
“You invaded mine first,” he said.
“I was here emotionally before you.”
“That’s debatable.”
He leaned over to whisper, “You’re smiling.”
“I do that now,” she said.
“Only at me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
But she didn’t move away.
A bell chimed.
“Good morning, literary criminals.”
Mia turned.
The woman standing in the doorway looked like summer had wandered into winter by mistake—blonde hair tied in a loose braid, coat dusted with snow, eyes bright with recognition.
“Ethan Reed,” she said. “Still alphabetizing your soul?”
Ethan froze.
“…Lila?”
Mia blinked between them. “Oh.”
Lila stepped closer, grinning. “You didn’t tell me you owned a bookstore.”
“You didn’t tell me you still existed,” he shot back.
She laughed. “Wow. Same tone. Same attitude.”
Mia folded her arms. “And you are…?”
Lila’s eyes flicked to her. “Lila. His high school mistake.”
Ethan groaned. “You said we’d never use that word.”
“You broke up with me during finals week.”
“You cheated on me with my best friend.”
“Details.”
Mia raised a brow. “I see you have a type.”
“Don’t,” Ethan said. “Please don’t.”
Lila’s gaze sharpened. “And you must be…?”
“Mia,” she said simply.
There was a beat.
Then—
“Oh,” Lila said slowly. “You’re her.”
“Excuse me?”
“The girl he used to rant about,” Lila said. “The one who hated his books.”
“I still do.”
Ethan winced. “We made peace.”
Lila smiled. “So you’re the enemy.”
Mia met her gaze. “Former enemy.”
Something in Lila’s smile shifted.
“Interesting,” she said.
They talked—awkwardly at first, then easily.
Lila had moved back to town. Working in event planning now. Still too charming for her own good.
“And you?” Lila asked Mia. “What do you do?”
“I came back to remember who I was, and now... I work here.” Mia said.
Ethan watched her when she said it.
The bell chimed again.
“Speak of trauma,” a man’s voice said.
Mia turned.
Dark hair, sharp grin, a coat too expensive for the town.
“Mia,” he said. “Still pretending you hate coffee?”
She stiffened.
“…Jonah.”
Ethan blinked. “You know him?”
Jonah laughed. “High school sweetheart.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
Mia groaned. “We dated for three months and broke up over a college brochure.”
“You chose the city over me,” Jonah said dramatically.
“You chose your ego over reality.”
Lila clapped once. “Oh, this is getting good.”
Ethan folded his arms. “So… you’re him.”
Jonah squinted then looked around. “And you’re... the bookstore guy.”
“Unfortunately.”
Mia crossed her arms. “Why are you here?”
“Class reunion,” Jonah said. “This Thursday. You both coming?”
Ethan scoffed. “No.”
Lila said at the same time, “Yes.”
They glared at each other.
Jonah smiled too much. He put his arm around Mia, then tried to convince her.“It’ll be fun.”
Mia hesitated.
Ethan noticed.
“You don’t have to,” he said quietly.
She looked at him. “It should be fine.”
The reunion was held in the oldest restaurant in the town.
The food was good, and the booze was okay. Music tried too hard.
They arrived together.
Not holding hands.
But close.
“Why does everyone look richer?” Ethan whispered.
“Why do they look happier?” Mia whispered back.
Lila waved from across the room. Jonah stood near Mia and talked.
Jealousy arrived quietly.
Mia watched Lila touch Ethan’s arm when she laughed.
Ethan watched Jonah lean in too close when he spoke.
“Are you okay?” Ethan asked.
“Yes,” Mia said. “Why?”
“You’re glaring.”
“Your ex is loud.”
“Your ex is smug.”
They drank booze and occasional wines and survived small talk.
Then—
“So,” Jonah said loudly, “you two dating?”
Silence.
Ethan opened his mouth.
Mia spoke first.
“Yes.”
The word surprised them both.
Lila blinked. “Wait—seriously?” she said, almost disappointed.
“You were enemies,” someone whispered.
“You argued about books,” another said.
“You hated each other,” a third added.
“They once also fought for the valedictorian, the student president, English literature club president and many more.” Their batchmates' laughter followed.
Mia shook her head then lifted her chin. “We learned.”
Ethan took her hand.
Just once.
The room buzzed.
Later, outside, snow caught in streetlight glow.
“Well,” Ethan said. “That happened.”
“I didn’t plan it,” Mia admitted.
“I didn’t hate it.”
They walked home slowly.
“Can I ask you about something?” he asked.
She smiled. “Sure, what is it?”
“Can we make it official?”
“You mean be girlfriend and boyfriend?”
He nodded. “I like you, Mia. Seeing Jonah with you pissed me off, and I don't know what to do about it because we are not official, and I don't want to overstep, and I'm so jealous-- ”
“Hey, it's okay, I understand. I also felt the same way with Lila.” Mia smiled and rested her head on Ethan's chest. “Ask me, make me officially yours, Ethan.”
Ethan caressed Mia's face, then rested his forehead on each other. “I like you so much, Mia. Will you be my girlfriend?” Ethan finally asked.
“Yes...”
Ethan never gave Mia a chance to speak more. He put his lips to her lips and gave her a gentle kiss.
Snow fell again.
Like a promise.
- Writer
