Love Was Never Enough

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Elari’s POV

The morning slipped by faster than I expected.

By nine o'clock, every chair in the salon was occupied. Hairdryers hummed, quiet conversations drifted through the room, and the familiar scent of shampoo and hairspray lingered in the air.

"Elaris, sweetheart!"

I looked up from the computer with a smile.

Mrs. Howard had arrived.

Like clockwork, she came in every three weeks and refused to let anyone except Iris touch her hair.

"Good morning, Mrs. Howard."

She rested both hands on the reception desk dramatically.

"Please tell me Iris isn't running late."

I laughed.

"She's already here. She actually started ten minutes early."

Mrs. Howard let out an exaggerated sigh of relief.

"Oh, thank goodness. The last time another stylist cut my bangs, my husband asked if I'd lost a bet."

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

"I'll let Iris know you're here."

"And book me for next month before I forget."

"I already have."

She pointed at me with a grin.

"That's why I adore you."

The front door opened again.

"Morning, Lari."

Mr. Bennett walked in carrying two takeaway cups.

Every Tuesday.

Black coffee.

Haircut and shave.

Three years, and he hadn't changed his routine once.

He held out one of the cups.

"My wife insisted this was for you."

I blinked.

"For me?"

"She says the poor girl at reception always looks like she needs more sleep."

I laughed as I accepted it.

"Please thank her for me."

"I will."

The morning carried on just as smoothly.

Mrs. Collins complained about the weather.

A little girl proudly showed everyone the gap where her front tooth had fallen out.

By lunchtime, I'd answered dozens of phone calls, rearranged appointments, printed receipts, and somehow remembered every regular client's preferred stylist without checking the system.

That was my favorite part of the job.

Remembering people.

Making them feel remembered.

Around one o'clock, Dora placed a sandwich on the desk in front of me.

"You skipped lunch."

I glanced at the clock.

"I didn't even notice."

"I know." She folded her arms. "Eat."

I smiled.

"I was just about to."

"You've been saying that for the last hour."

I laughed quietly and unwrapped the sandwich.

"You worry too much."

"I manage a salon."

She shrugged.

"It's part of the job."

The afternoon disappeared in another rush of appointments.

A local television presenter stopped by before going on air.

A bride came in for her final hair trial before the wedding.

One elderly gentleman spent more time talking about his grandchildren than getting his haircut.

Before I realized it, the clock read six.

Finally,

Home.

I reached for my bag just as my phone buzzed.

Evren ❤️

I smiled before answering.

"Hi."

"I'm outside."

I blinked.

"You are?"

"Come and see."

"I thought you were still at work."

"I escaped."

A laugh slipped from my lips.

"I'll be right there."

After making sure everything at the reception was in order, I grabbed my cardigan and headed for the door.

"Leaving?" Dora asked.

"Yeah. Evren's here."

She smiled knowingly.

"Tell him I said hello."

"I will."

I locked the front door behind me and stepped into the cool evening air.

The evening air was cooler than I'd expected.

Brookhaven was still alive with people heading home from work. Children chased one another along the sidewalk, food vendors called out to passing customers, and the smell of grilled meat drifted through the street.

Across the road, a dark silver sedan was parked beneath a maple tree.

My smile came before I even saw him.

Evren leaned against the driver's door, his sleeves rolled to his forearms, one hand tucked into his pocket.

The moment our eyes met, the tiredness on his face softened.

"There you are."

"There you are," I echoed as I crossed the street.

He opened his arms.

I walked straight into them.

His embrace was warm and familiar, and for a moment, the long day melted away.

He rested his chin lightly against my head.

"You smell like hairspray."

I laughed.

"I work in a salon."

"I know. Somehow, so do half my shirts."

I pulled back just enough to look at him.

"You look exhausted."

"So do you."

"We're quite the pair."

That earned me a quiet laugh.

"I missed you," he said.

"I missed you too."

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear before kissing my forehead.

It was gentle.

Comforting.

Home, in the simplest way.

"How was work?" he asked.

"Busy. I barely remembered to eat."

His brows drew together.

"Lari..."

"Dora made sure I did."

"I don't like that."

I slipped my hand into his.

"You worry too much."

"I know," he admitted. "I can't help it."

For a moment, we simply stood there, smiling at each other while the city moved around us.

Then he lifted my hand and pressed a light kiss against my knuckles.

"Come on."

He opened the passenger door for me with a small bow.

"My lady."

I laughed as I climbed in.

"I've never been anybody's lady."

"You've been mine for three years."

Heat crept into my cheeks.

He closed the door before walking around to the driver's side.

The car smelled faintly of cedarwood and fresh coffee.

Soft music filled the silence as he started the engine.

"Seatbelt," he reminded me.

"I was getting there."

"So you claim."

I fastened it with an exaggerated sigh.

"There. Happy?"

"Very."

We pulled away from the curb and joined the slow evening traffic.

I rested my head against the window, watching the familiar streets slip past.

The little bookstore on the corner had switched on its warm yellow lights.

A couple stood outside a restaurant, laughing over something only they understood.

Everything felt peaceful.

"So," I asked, "how many meetings today?"

He let out a tired breath.

"Too many."

"Still bad?"

He nodded.

"My father barely left the office."

"I'm sorry."

I reached across the console and rested my hand over his.

Without looking away from the road, he turned his hand over and intertwined our fingers.

We stayed like that for a while.

Then he broke the silence.

"I'm staying over tonight."

I turned toward him.

"You are?"

"If you'll have me."

I smiled.

"You know you never have to ask."

"I still like hearing you say yes."

"Then yes."

A grin spread across his face.

"Good."

"That's it?"

"No." He glanced at me briefly. "I've been thinking about your cooking all day."

I laughed.

"So that's why you're here."

"It's one of the reasons."

"And the others?"

He squeezed my hand.

"You."

My heart warmed.

"I guess I'll feed you, then."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

A few minutes later, I frowned when he drove past the turn that led to my apartment.

"Evren..."

"I know."

"You missed the turn."

"I didn't."

I looked at him suspiciously.

"Then where are we going?"

"You'll see."

A minute later, he pulled into the parking lot of the neighborhood grocery store.

I looked at him.

"The grocery store?"

He nodded.

"We're making a proper dinner tonight."

I laughed.

"I already have food at home."

"You have ingredients."

"That's still food."

He got out and came around to open my door.

"Humor me."

I looked at him for a second before smiling.

"Fine."

"I knew you'd say yes."

"I surrendered."

"Close enough."

Inside, the store buzzed with the usual evening crowd.

Families pushed carts through the aisles while children pleaded for sweets near the checkout.

I reached for a shopping basket.

Evren quietly took it from my hand.

"I've got it."

"I can carry it."

"I know."

He smiled.

"But tonight, let me."

I let him.

"So," he asked as we reached the produce section, "what's for dinner?"

I smiled.

"Your favorite."

His head turned immediately.

"The chicken?"

"And the mashed potatoes."

"What about the mushroom sauce?"

I laughed.

"I was getting to that."

"I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you."

I nudged his shoulder.

"Oh? Just one reason?"

"I can think of a few more."

He smiled before reaching for my hand again.

"But that's definitely near the top of the list."

We wandered through the aisles together, picking out potatoes, vegetables, herbs, and fresh mushrooms.

At one point, I caught him quietly placing two large bags of caramel popcorn into the basket.

I raised an eyebrow.

"We don't need two."

"We absolutely do."

"We're two people."

"Exactly."

I took one bag out and returned it to the shelf.

A few moments later, I heard the familiar rustle of plastic behind me.

I turned around.

The second bag had somehow found its way back into the basket.

I looked at him.

He looked back innocently.

"What?"

I couldn't help laughing.

"You are impossible."

"And yet..."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough for me to hear.

"...you're still going to marry me."

I smiled before slipping my hand back into his.