After eating breakfast with my dad, I anxiously get ready for my day. Doing my best to not think of what's about to be found out today, I attempt to make it easier by playing my Cool Out playlist on Spotify which consists of my favorite indie pop songs. It does well to distract me as I throw on my black high waisted jeans and white v neck cropped tee, though it doesn't help with my indecisiveness as far as choosing the clothes.

I choose my plain black Vans after much deliberating and grab my small backpack, throwing the leather strap over my shoulder and jogging down the stairs, leaving my curly hair tousling down my back.

Riding my bike to work is hot but I hardly notice, the sweat and hard pounding heart beats hidden behind the anxious pit in my stomach. As soon as my bicycle is parked in its usual spot, I stop in front of the door and release a long breath.

"Whatever happens, I will accept the outcome and everything will work out the way it's supposed to." I mumble to myself, breathing slowly to calm my heart rate. Finally, my fingers wrap around the handle and I gently push, cool air greeting me.

I hear Amelia before I see her, her sandals clapping against the hardwood floor. Her light pink sweater throws me off, my eyes locked on the new material. "New sweater?" I ask, feeling even more unnerved by the sudden change. I don't do very well with change.

Her thin hands grasp my forearm tightly, "Yes, I thought I should switch it up on such an important day. He should be here at any moment, I feel so excited and terrified at the same time. I wish there was something else I could do bedsides sit around." She croaks tiredly.

My heart sinks in my chest at her tone of voice, her worry suddenly pushing my own away completely as I focus on her. "It'll be okay, Amelia. Either way, you've done an amazing job running Books and Bagels and I'm honored to have worked under you for the years I've been here." I pat her hand, "And, look at the bright side, if we close the store, you can spend more time with that adorable grandchild of yours." I smile.

She pauses, looking over at me sadly with a glint if hopefulness in her eyes, "Thank you, Lillian. I've loved having you here along with everyone else. But let's just hold out hope that Mr Ward will see the importance in this place that we do."

"You're right." I release her hand, stepping forward and grabbing my name tag from the desk and placing a bright expectant smile on my face, "It's not over yet."

"Exactly." Her lips are lifted slightly, "Now get to work. I have a cart of books on the third floor that need organizing." Her voice is stern but her eyes sparkle as she speaks.

My expression flattens as I nod once, "Sure, I got it." I tell her though we both know that, within the next couple of weeks, all of those books will be pulled off the shelf whether things go our way or not.

"Okay and then after that you and Sam can - "

"We can what?" My head turns to find Samantha stepping into the building with heavy breaths, "Sorry I'm late, I had to walk here."

I take in her disheveled appearance, her hair frizzy from the stubborn humidity and her close wrinkled from the strenuous walk. "What?" I ask, baffled, "Why?" I've become accustomed to Dakota popping in and bothering me each morning.

The brunette sags into the nearest chair, a rickety stool behind the desk, as she sighs in relief. "Dakota went to the doctor's office because he was puking his guts out last night and Winter was forced to help his mom with one of her yoga classes." She informs me dryly, pulling her dark hair into a top knot at the crown of her head.

"Oh." I chuckle, "Well I could have come and picked you up on my trusty bicycle." My eyes twinkle along with my joke, pulling a laugh from her where she sits.

"I'll remember that next time Dakota decides to get the flu. He's so selfish." She rolls her eyes dramatically. I shake my head at her in disapproval and she sighs, "I'm kidding!"

"Is he really that sick?" I ask her as I crouch down, my hand pulling open one of the filing drawers. I finger through the files before landing on the one I'm searching for. Pulling it out, I open it and begin scanning it quickly.

"That he has to go to the doctor?" Sam responds absentmindedly as she watches me curiously, "I mean, I'd say so. He couldn't keep anything down he and looked like straight up death when he left this morning. I almost felt bad for him but then he made fun of me for having to walk and all of that pity just kind of disappeared." Her chocolate eyes roll as she recalls the events.

I press my lips together firmly, finding the book I was hoping to find, my finger placed underneath it so I don't lose my place, "I hope he's okay." My tone sounds sad even to my own ears.

"Awe you're worried about him." Sam's bottom lip juts out as the teasing look in her eyes focuses on me, jiving me.

My head cocks to the side as I sigh, my hip resting against the wooden desk. "Samantha." I deadpan, "I'm simply asking as a friend. You're the one who brought it up."

"Yeah to make you feel sorry for me, not him."

"Sam." I cock a brow.

"I jest, I jest." She holds her hands up in surrender, "You know I love him, it's just hard to feel sorry for him when he only torments me on a daily basis."

"We all get tormented by him, it's a thing he does." I chuckle lowly, writing down the information I need from the file onto a sticky note.

Sam leans over, peeking at my scribbles, "Yeah but not all of us get taken on romantic picnics and given white roses." She mumbles and I freeze where I stand, feeling stiffened by her words, "Hey what are you doing anyway?"

"How did you know about the rose? And that picnic wasn't romantic, it was for his birthday. We had just met." I defend, feeling put on the spot as if I've been confronted even though I'm aware she's doing no such thing.

"First of all, he asked me where he could buy a single rose in town. Second, he wouldn't stop talking about it all morning. It was actually really annoying since I didn't know you yet. But now I get his obsession." She winks, "You are pretty great."

My heart warms at her words, a smile spreading over my lips. "Thanks, Sam, but he's not obsessed with me. We're just friends." Why do I feel like I'm lying?

"If by friends you mean he recklessly pines over you while you reject your own feelings then...yes, you're just friends." She mumbles lowly as Amelia's office door opens.

I look at her, my lips pursed as I try not to deny nor confirm her accusations, "To answer your question, I'm looking for a book that I've been wanting to read. I wanted to know if we had it in stock." My eyes dart to the floor as I change the subject, the memory of last night burning clear in my mind.

"Lillian." Sam's voice drifts off as she says my name, footsteps filling the room as Amelia approaches behind her.

Shoving the folder into the filing drawer, I place a smile on my face. "Good morning." I chirp, feeling Samantha's eyes remain locked on me relentlessly.

My managers eyes peek over the top of her glasses suspiciously as they narrow thinly at me, "Were you searching the inventory for a book again? We've talked about this, I can't just let you take books home." She sighs, holding a stack of papers to her chest.

My lips curls in disappointment, shoving the sticky note into my pocket. "While normally I would just agree, I have to point out that I may very well be the woman saving this place therefore all of these books should be at my disposal." I smirk slightly at my own joke though Amelia doesn't seem so amused, her lips pressed into a narrow line.

"Lillian."

"Fine." I sigh, my arms hanging dead at my sides as my head hangs back, "I won't go get it. I'll just..pay for it or something." The word rolls of my tongue with a tang of disgust.

Sam chuckles next to me but covers it with a cough, her hand flying to her mouth, "It's uh...dusty in here."

Amelia's unamused gaze only makes me smile brighter, "You girls are just too much to handle right now. I'm going to get coffee so hold down the fort. And don't expect me to get you anything." She says dryly and sets the stack of papers down in front of me, "Oh and file these for me in my office."

"Seriously?" I breathe, regarding the pile of at least two hundred pages with horror, "That will take forever."

"Samantha can help you when she's not helping customers, right?" Her satisfied smile locks into my friend.

"Uh...yes, of course." Sam tries for her usual happy attitude but I hear the truth in her voice; she hates filing as much as me.

"Not so dusty in here now, is it?" Amelia winks before cackling to herself and pulling the door open. I watch in shock as she pulls her sweater around her and walks down the sidewalk.

"It must be over eighty degrees out there. How is she wearing a sweater?" I mumble before turning around and laughing loudly at Sam's embarrassed expression.

"She knew I laughed and now I'm a bad employee." Her lips sag sadly.

Shaking my head in amusement, I pick up the hefty block of papers and hold them to my chest, "Come on, let's get this done."

✰✰✰

Once the papers have been filed and Amelia has returned with her coffee, (ours as well seeing as she just couldn't resist buckling down and buying us a couple of macchiatos) it's almost time for lunch and there's still no sight of Jared. I should really refer to him as "Mr. Ward" but it seems too formal to call such a young guy "Mister."

"Shouldn't he have been here by now?" Sam asks me as I reply to a text Symphony sent me, a smile on my lips.

"He called and confirmed that he would be arriving back in town today and would make a trip here as soon as he can. Don't be impatient." Amelia sips her coffee as she inspects her refiled cabinets and drawers. She always seems to leave them a mess when she coincidentally needs me to file something for her. She also knows that I can't work with disorganization and this leads me to believe they're not coincidences at all.

"Sorry." Sam mumbles as we walk away from her office, "Who are you texting?" She asks me once we're out of earshot. "You're grinning so I'm guessing it's my brother."

"Nice try." I roll my eyes, shoving my phone back into my pocket, "But that was Symphony. She said that she knows how important today is so she's bringing my favorite lunch for moral support."

"Awe that's nice of her."

"Don't worry, she's bringing enough for you too." I laugh at her jealous expression.

"She really doesn't have to." She says but the excitement in her brown eyes betrays her.

"Well she is so I hope you like subs and strawberries. Hopefully she brings Skittles too but, if she doesn't, don't tell her I was hoping." I hold up a finger.

Her index finger and thumb pull an invisible zipper over her lips, "You got it, Ace."

"Right." I laugh, "Now that we are away from the clutches of our slave driver and we've pretty much finished every job possible, what do you want to do?" I ask her resting my hands in my back pockets briefly just as my phone rings, "Oh hang on a second." Holding up a finger, I step away. "Hello?"

"Lillian." I recognize Dakota's voice, realIzing I didn't even check the name before answering.

"Dakota." I reply, my eyes gliding over to where Sam stands as she pretends not to listen to my conversation, her fingers picking at her nail polish. "I heard that you were sick."

"I have a question for you." His tone is bright much like the sun beating through the windows and has the same effect on my face as the sun does to my skin; I become bright red. I almost don't notice that he had disregarded my rhetorical statement.

"Then I must have the answer." I smile, waiting, deciding to let it go.

He chuckles lowly, "I know that today you're getting some news so...I planned a little something for dinner if you're interested. It'll either be a celebratory dinner or a just-cry-and-eat dinner." As soon as he stops talking I can feel the hesitancy in his voice and it brings a light laugh out of me.

"You're sick, Dakota." I deadpan, this time more insistently.

"Just come to my house, okay?" He chuckles.

"Okay I'll be there. I biked here so I'll meet you at your house at seven." I agree just as I spot Symphony walking up the sidewalk and to the door, "Hey I've got to go but I'll see you later?"

"Yes and yeah of course, that's fine. I look forward to it." The last sentence is spoken quietly as if someone else will hear.

"I do too." I beam, "Bye." Quickly hanging up, I meet Sym at the door to meet her accusing smirk, Sam rushing to over to us, her bottom lip between her teeth excitedly.

"Why do you look so happy?" My best friend asks me smugly as we walk over to the round wooden tables near the shop. Setting her large bag filled with goodies onto the hard surface, she takes a seat.

Sam and I follow suit, an eager expression on both of their faces. "Guys." I hold up a hand, "Dakota was just calling to say that he wants to see me after work and after I hear the news. He's being a good friend, that's all." I speak slowly to keep them and their attention at bay.

They both look at each other as if they're parents regarding an adolescent child who simply doesn't know better. "Lillian," Symphony speaks, "Just admit that you have a date with Dakota and we'll drop it."

Looking between the two of them, I sigh. "It's not a date! If it were a date, he would have said so. You know how blunt he is." I defend, pulling the bag open and grabbing a sub. I feel their eyes on me as I unwrap the sandwich and take a large bite.

"No he wouldn't." Sam tries, grabbing her own lunch, "I know him. He might walk and talk like a duck but he's definitely a chicken." She snorts as she speaks of her brother, "He's too much of a baby to straight up ask you on a date. He'll call it a date in his head and expect you to figure it out."

I frown before swallowing. "Samantha, I know he's your brother and all but, trust me, he's extremely open with me about his feelings...most of the time." I add when I remember our conversation back in his father's library.

"He might tell you his feelings openly but he's too much of a baby to say or do anything that could bring rejection from you upon him." She explains as she opens the container of freshly cut strawberries.

"Who says I would reject him?" My voice comes out timid as I reach for a red berry.Both of my friends freeze as they look at me. "What?" I ask defensively.

"Lilly, I love you and all but you can be so dense sometimes." Symphony groans in frustration, "Why wouldn't he think you're going to reject him? Every time we bring him up, you insist that you two are just friends. You can't even seem to admit to yourself that you like him." Her tone softens when my face falls.

Staring down at my food, my stomach twists. Then again, they say this but they're never around with it's just me and Dakota. I may have not said outright how I feel but he understands my hesitancy.

"Look...." I sigh in defeat as my hands rest atop the table, my eyes meeting theirs, "Trust me, Dakota knows how I feel about him. I know that I might have a hard time admitting it to myself but, for the sake of the situation, I need you to know that he must be well aware."

"Did you tell him?" Sam asks hopefully, her brows raised.

I pause, shaking my head. "No...not exactly."

"Did you kiss him?" Symphony asks me openly, her eyes wide in shock.

My cheeks burn as I shake my head more vigorously, "No."

"Then how does he know?" Sam asks me softly, her brows now pulled together in confusion. My heart beats hard in my chest from the confrontation as I wrack my brain for a reply.

"How does who know what now?" Amelia asks, making me jump. I sigh in relief, for once happy to have my conversation interrupted by eavesdropping ears.

"Nothing." I'm quick to end my thoughts on the subject and turn back to my sandwich happily.

I sense my friends' disappointment but I shrug it off, focusing on my lunch and the nerves churning in my stomach as Amelia tells us, "Mr. Ward called. He informed me that he'll be here within the next fifteen minutes so...hurry up with lunch I'm afraid this can't wait."

"Of course." I nod once.

"This isn't over." Symphony glares at me from across the table, her voice just above a whisper as our manager turns and walks towards the front desk. I just give her a satisfied smile as I bite into the delicious sub, earning an eye roll from both of them.

Once we've finished, I feel almost sick from eating so quickly and Sam seems to look how I feel, her face pasty and pale. Symphony gathers up her stuff and shoves her arm through the strap of her white bag, the color coordinating well with the cute light tan top and white jeans she's wearing, her blonde hair shaping her face in its usually perfect way.

"He's here." Amelia almost chokes on the glass of water she's drinking before setting it down behind the desk and smoothing out her old corduroy pants.

"It's fine." I tell everyone when I see Sam's panicked expression, "Everything will work out the way it's supposed to."

"I hope you're right." I hear Amelia mutter under her breath just as the door opens and a smartly dressed man steps through it, his briefcase in hand.

"Good afternoon, ladies." He greets with a professionally curt nod before swiftly approaching. I put on a polite smile but my insides feel like they've been put in a blender on high.

Book and Bagels means the world to me and it always will. Everything about it matches my personality and my comfort level -

"I have some bad news." He sighs, opening the case.

- but maybe it's time to move onto my next adventure.

"Alright." Amelia puts on a brave face but I instantly see through it, the strain in her eyes clearly evident. "What is it?"

"I can't keep this place open. It's simply not possible." In between a minuscule crack of his hard exterior, I sense that maybe he's not as happy about this is he once thought he would be, "I've spoken with some accountants, some trusted fact workers, and a few fellow business owners who have had the experience that I don't quite yet have. They've all advised me to sell. I truly am very sorry...it just can't be helped." His apology at the end catches me by surprise, his eyes softening as he looks over at Amelia.

"I understand." She smiles kindly, her hand reaching over to place itself upon his arm tenderly. The act warms my heart as Jared's thick dark brows pull together in confusion. As if he couldn't possibly understand how she isn't completely furious with the decision he's made. "You've made the right choice."

"Well..." He pauses, obviously caught off guard, before clearing his throat, "Thank you. I wish there was something I could do but at least my father kept it open as long as he could. I guess now I look like the sinister one but he was losing money on Books and Bagels years before he passed. He just didn't have the heart to close."

"None of us did." I speak up, earning his attention. "Look, Jared, I do appreciate you even considering my idea. That says a lot about your character and I know you'll do great running your father's business. You made the hard call and I respect you for that." I stop there, choosing to let him leave on a positive note before the tears start flowing.

He blinks at me, obviously not expecting such a compliment. "I appreciate that, Lillian. You've been an amazing employee and my father cared for all of you very much. I'm afraid I have to go but I'll be back at the end of the month to finalize one of the offers we've already had." He glances around warily at all of our sad expressions with what looks to be regret. As soon as I see it, it's gone.

"Good luck." I nod, "I'll walk you to the door." Everyone looks at me like this is an odd offer but I ignore them, walking alongside him before we both step out onto the pavement, the sun beating down on the skin of my arms.

"Alright what do you want?" I spot a glint of humor in his eyes and I chuckle lightly when I realize my intentions aren't as unseen as I believed.

"Well...I was wondering if, since you're closing the place and you have about it million of them, maybe - "

"Yes, Lillian." He cuts me off, "You may have as many books as you wish. Count it as part of your bonus for working for me for so long." He tells me lowly.

"Technically I worked for your father." I joke but when he doesn't seem to get it I rush to continue, "But I will definitely take you up on your offer." I grin, thinking of the book I jotted down earlier, the sticky note still stored away in my pocket safely.

"Please do. I have to run but it was nice meeting you and Amelia. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say hello to the other employees." His eyes dart through the glass to Sam and Symphony.

"Oh no." I chuckle, "Symphony doesn't work here, she was just bringing me some lunch. But uh...thanks I'll let Sam know of your regrets." I nod with a small smile.

His eyes linger on them before he clears his throat, "Right well...Symphony may not be an employee but it was rude of me to ignore her. Let them both know I wish I could have properly introduced myself but I am unfortunately pressed for time."

"I will let them know." I say again with a confused smile. "Goodbye."

"Have a good afternoon." He nods before approaching his vehicle. I watch him for a moment before waving and turning around, entering the building once again.

"What was he saying?" Sam asks me curiously.

"Well, first of all, I think he thought Symphony was hot or something because he was acting super weird." I joke, trying to lighten the heavy mood.

Symphony's eyes roll, "Yeah right. Just tell us what actually happened."

My face falls, "I was just asking if I could have a book. He said I could have as many as I want, probably because all of them will be donated or, worse yet, burned or something." I say morbidly, sinking into the nearest seat lazily.

"Don't say that!" Amelia gasps, "I uh...I need to go see something in my office." Her voice cracks before rushing to her office, her aged hand presses against her lips as she goes.

The three of us look at like each other when her door shuts, all of us knowing exactly what's going on in there. "Poor Amelia." Sam sighs, "She's been here so long."

"This is all my fault." I blurt.

"What?" Symphony regards me with furrowed brows, "How the heck is B&B closing your fault?"

Resting my forehead against the arms on the table, back back hunched in defeat, I say, "I should have just left it alone. She was prepared to let the place go and I just had to go and give all of us hope. Hope deferred makes the heart sick." I quote.

"What's that from?" Sam asks me.

"The Bible." I tell her obviously before groaning, "I feel awful."

"Don't feel bad! Giving everyone hope is apart of who you are. No one ever expected you to just roll over and give up. That's what we love about you." Symphony tells me, wrapping an arm over my hunched form. A few seconds later, I feel another pair or arms draped over me.

"We love you, Lillian." Sam tells me softly, "We're proud of how hard you tried. We all did our best and I guess it wasn't meant to be."

"I know but it still hurts." I mumble into my arms, my voice cracking as I tense with tears in my eyes.

"Lillian..." I feel Sym sit next to me, her palm still rested on my back, "I know that Books and Bagels means a lot to you but...maybe it's your way of holding onto your mom? I'm not trying to make things worse I just hate seeing you this way. You seem to cause yourself more pain than you need to feel. Putting this burden on yourself just isn't necessary."

My face scrunches up, my hair falling around my face like a protective curtain. The twisting in my chest disappears a little more each time a year escapes me squinted eyes. "I know it's for the best - I really do. Don't worry about me." I don't necessarily mean to not address her comment about my mom. I just...don't.

"You say that as you sob on a table." Sam says with a small laugh, making me smile through the tears.

"I just need to cry that's, all." My throat closes up uncomfortably as I feel another wave of tears coming.

"Okay." She rubs my back gently, "Well maybe your and Dakota's date will make you feel better."

"It's not a date!" I sob carelessly.

"Keep telling yourself that."