A Sip Of Love

8

Chapter 8:

The days following the open mic event were filled with a strange mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Raya found herself thinking about the night more than she expected—about how natural it had felt, how easy it had been to slip into the rhythm of it all, to share a space with people, with Travis, and not feel quite so... alone.

But now, the morning after had left her in a quiet sort of limbo. She had tried to shake off the unease from the night, the feeling that had bubbled up in her chest when she saw Travis with Rachel. It wasn’t that she wanted to be possessive, but it was something else—a fear she hadn’t quite named. It had been creeping up, slowly, like a quiet storm.

The next day, she found herself at the coffee shop again, just as she always did. The shop was quieter this time—only a few regulars scattered around, the soft murmur of conversation filling the air. As soon as she stepped inside, the warmth of the place wrapped around her, and she felt the familiar comfort of it. The buzz of the espresso machine, the clink of spoons against porcelain cups, and then... Travis.

There was something about the way he was standing behind the counter, his sleeves rolled up, looking entirely himself that made Raya’s heart give a little flutter. He caught sight of her almost immediately, a genuine smile spreading across his face. It wasn’t just a smile; it was a welcome—a quiet invitation, like he was always happy to see her.

“Morning, Raya,” he called out, his voice soft but steady.

“Hey, Travis,” she replied, her own smile tugging at her lips despite herself. She made her way to the counter, but this time, there was an unfamiliar hesitance in her step. It wasn’t the usual comfort she had when she saw him—it was something more fragile, as if she were standing on the edge of something she couldn’t quite define.

She hesitated before speaking, unsure how to put the thoughts into words. “So... last night,” she began, her voice quiet but earnest. “I’ve been thinking about it. About you, actually. And about... how I’m feeling.”

Travis, noticing the shift in her tone, set down the coffee mug he’d been cleaning and leaned in slightly. There was an openness in his gaze, the way he looked at her as if he were ready to listen, to really hear what she was about to say.

“I’m listening,” he said, his voice low and inviting.

Raya swallowed, trying to find the right words. “I don’t know if this makes sense, but... I think I’m starting to feel something for you. Something more than just... gratitude. Or friendship.”

Her words hung in the air between them, vulnerable and a little raw, but she didn’t pull back. There was no point in pretending anymore. What she was feeling for Travis had shifted, evolved into something more complex, and it wasn’t something she could ignore.

Travis’s expression didn’t change at first. He just kept looking at her, his gaze steady but soft, like he was carefully weighing her words. He didn’t rush to say anything, just let the silence stretch for a beat.

“I... didn’t know how to say it either,” he said, finally breaking the quiet. “But I think I’ve been feeling the same way.”

Raya’s heart skipped, the relief that swept through her almost tangible. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear him say it too. Still, there was a thread of uncertainty pulling at the edges of the moment. This was new territory for both of them, and it wasn’t like either of them were rushing toward anything.

“I don’t want to make things complicated,” she said quickly, her words tumbling out as though she was trying to keep them from getting tangled. “I know we’ve both been through... a lot. And it feels like everything is moving so slowly.”

Travis smiled softly, leaning back against the counter, his arms crossing in a comfortable way. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing that it’s slow,” he said, his voice steady. “If anything, it feels like we’re building something real. And I’m okay with taking it slow.”

Raya felt a wave of warmth, her nerves calming under the weight of his words. She had expected him to rush, to give her the impression that they needed to hurry, that they needed to define whatever this was between them. But he wasn’t doing that. He was patient, and that in itself was a relief.

“I’m just scared,” she admitted quietly. “I don’t want to mess it up, or... or get hurt again.”

She could feel the truth of her own words, the sting of vulnerability in them. There was so much she hadn’t yet unpacked from her past, from her marriage, from everything that had led her here. It wasn’t just about Travis—it was about her own walls, her own fears.

Travis’s gaze softened further, and he uncrossed his arms, stepping closer to the counter. “I get that,” he said quietly. “I’ve been there, too. I’m not expecting anything from you, Raya. I just want to be here. For you.”

Raya looked up at him, feeling something stir in her chest—a sense of safety, of trust, that she hadn’t realized she was looking for. There was something about Travis’s steadiness, his quiet understanding, that made her feel like maybe, just maybe, she could take the next step.

They stood there in comfortable silence for a moment, the quiet hum of the shop around them. And for the first time in a while, Raya felt a sense of calm settle in her chest. She didn’t have to rush this. They didn’t have to rush.

“I guess... I guess it’s okay to feel this way,” she said slowly, her voice almost a whisper. “It’s just new for me.”

“I get that,” Travis said again, his voice low. “But I promise, I’m not going anywhere.”

Raya smiled, the smallest tug at the corners of her lips, and nodded. “Okay.”

They stood there for a moment longer, the weight of their words settling between them, unspoken but understood. It wasn’t a grand declaration or a dramatic moment. It was simple—just two people sharing something honest, something real.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Travis said, breaking the silence with the gentleness that always seemed to surround him.

Raya’s smile widened, a little brighter now. “I’m glad, too.”