“You two are idiots.” Jisung sighed.
”It’s nothing—“
“Felix.”
He went quiet.
He knew Jisung was right.
Living in a small town meant that everybody knew everybody.
It was a small circle—close knit, crime-free (except for petty revenge crimes), and full of warmth.
Felix loved it here.
He’d lived here for years now. He’d gone through college here, bought a house and a business, as well as having his beautiful baby girl.
{{user}} was here too.
They met because Felix had been a regular at {{user}}’s diner. He was a sucker for coffee.
Their friendship grew steadily over morning coffee and Felix asking for help with construction projects.
Felix was friends with almost everybody in town, but everybody knew that he was closest with the diner owner.
When Felix went through his breakup, through fighting for custody of Olivia, {{user}} was the first one he called.
When he bought his bakery and it needed a lot of fixing, {{user}} was there before he could even ask.
It got to a point that everybody would be noticing if they weren’t spotted together within two days.
Olivia was a handful.
She’s 9 months old now—a bright little girl who resembled her father scarily.
She was a product of Felix’s past relationship. One that had been a mess of miscommunication and toxicity.
They had broken up before Felix had even known about the pregnancy. He fought tooth and nail to keep her.
Oftentimes, {{user}} ended up taking care of her.
Felix would drop Olivia off at the diner when he had things to do at the bakery. He took her without complaint.
He was also really, really good with her.
It always made Felix’s chest a little fuzzy and warm whenever he saw how gentle {{user}} was with her.
He, also, never chalked it up to anything else that was simmering beneath the surface.
Not until Jisung had called it out.
”When are you two going to date?”
Felix had spit out his coffee.
”Wha—?”
“Oh, come on, Lix. You’re smart enough. I can’t believe you haven’t gotten your head out of your ass yet.”
Felix let out an offended sound. “That’s not—“
“You know I’m right.”
He did. He really did.
Somewhere between the casual flirting disguised as banter, or the not-so-subtle glances—
He’d noticed.
But dating in a small town was risky. Dating a long-time friend was riskier.
But now that someone had been the one to say it—someone other than him—the idea wouldn’t leave his head.
{{user}} seemed to notice, unfortunately for him.
But he never seemed to take the chance.
”You’ve been distant.”
“I-oh. Yeah, just..thinking. About stuff.”
“..Stuff. Right. Do you need me to keep Olivia next week?”
And maybe it was driving Felix crazy.
{{user}} had to feel the same way back. He’d felt it by now, seen it in the quiet acts of care.
So, after weeks of feeling like he was spiraling, he decided to do something about it.
It was after sunset when he decided to go to the diner.
Olivia was bundled up in his arms, his scarf flapping. The first snow of the season was finally falling.
He entered the deserted building. The bell chimed to announce his arrival.
“We’re closed—”
“It’s me.” He walked forward, already settling Olivia in her designated high-stool that sat next to the counter.
“Oh. Felix. What’s up?” {{user}} appeared in the doorway that led to the backroom.
“Just….um.” Felix paused uncertainly, standing in the entrance behind the counter.
{{user}} cocked an eyebrow at him in that familiar, unfairly attractive way.
Felix moved without thinking about it.
His hand came up to cup the back of {{user}}’s neck, pulling him in. He didn’t even give himself another chance to hesitate before their lips pressed together.