Matchmaker Mayhem

The scent of freshly brewed tea swirled in the air, mingling with the comforting warmth of baked pastries as Ava leaned against the counter of her tea shop. The afternoon rush had finally died down, leaving a peaceful lull in the space that she had come to consider her second home.

Across the shop, Ryan was perched on a stool near the register, sleeves rolled up, flipping through a business law journal he had brought along but barely read. Instead, he seemed more interested in watching Ava move around the shop, stealing glances at her when he thought she wasn’t looking.

She was looking, of course.

Ava had always been keenly aware of Ryan’s presence, but ever since Paris—ever since them—that awareness had deepened. It wasn’t just the fact that he was here in the tea shop with her almost every day now, or that he had practically moved into her apartment without either of them officially acknowledging it. It was the little things.

Like how he absentmindedly reached for her hand when they passed by each other. Or how he brewed her tea just the way she liked it without asking. Or how she had started keeping extra sweaters of his around her place, because, as she so eloquently claimed, "Mine are too thin for the cold."

Mei had noticed, of course.

"Just move in together already," Mei had teased just yesterday, smirking over her cup of jasmine tea.

Ava had scoffed. "That’s ridiculous. We’re just... comfortable."

Mei had merely hummed knowingly. "Right, of course. That’s what all engaged couples who already live together say."

Ava had ignored her. But now, standing in her shop, watching Ryan lean back against the counter with that insufferably charming smirk of his, she couldn’t help but wonder if Mei had a point.

Ryan caught her staring and arched a brow. "What?"