Monday morning, I walked to work, going through the list of things in my head that I needed to do during the day—and happy that it didn’t include preparing to relocate the store.

That’s right. Wes had barely stepped out of the store yesterday before I rushed after him to tell him I would be staying where I was. And it wasn’t because the lease was cheaper and because I wouldn’t have to relocate. With the way all the businesses in the building had pitched in to make Thursday’s fundraiser a success, I realized I didn’t wish to leave our little community.

A small vase, with a white ribbon tied around it, sat in front of the store door. A couple of sprigs of lavender—the herb of love—were perched inside. There was no card saying who had sent it.

So I did what anyone who received a mysterious bouquet would do…I turned around and scanned the street. A few pedestrians were strolling along the sidewalk while a couple of cars drove past, but that was it. Nothing to hint who had left the vase.

Maybe I had a secret admirer.

I sniffed the flowers and smiled. No one had ever given me flowers before.

Late Tuesday afternoon, I stepped out of my office for a few minutes to cover for Lisa while she went on her break.

An oversized envelope with my name on it was sitting on the counter. I opened it to find a folded parchment resembling the Marauders Map from Harry Potter. But instead of a drawing of Hogwarts, the building on the front was the one where I worked, including the courtyard in the middle. I laughed at the footsteps drawn on the map. From the looks of it, Hannah was with Wes in his office. No idea what that was about.

Liam, Kelsey, Trent, Holly, and Josh were in The Unicorn.

Fanny and her cohorts were standing by the counter of my store—no doubt having some of my cookies.

I was standing in the middle of my fountain.

And Travis was right behind me.

Even though I knew he wasn’t there—because I wasn’t standing in the fountain—I spun around.

Nope, just as I thought.

Grinning, I sent him a text: Thank you for the map. I love it.

It didn’t mean anything other than he still wished to be friends. The only problem was I wasn’t sure I could be friends.

Not now.

Not until I was over him.

Wednesday morning, I opened my apartment door, ready to go to work, and discovered a small gift bag hanging from the doorknob.

I removed it and opened the bag. Inside was a key chain. But it wasn’t the key attached to it that got me excited. It was what was on the gift that had me gasping softly. Under the clear dome was the picture of a glowing, almost ghost-like doe and the word “Always.”

It was based on one of my favorite quotes from the final Harry Potter book.

Like with the flowers on Monday, there was nothing to indicate who it was from, but it didn’t take a genius to figure it out.

It also didn’t take a genius to guess the reason behind it.

I know your grandmother told you I’m not used to getting gifts, I told Travis via text, but that doesn’t mean you have to send me any.

Then I sent him another one. I’m a big girl now, not a kid. You can stop sending them.

Please stop. Because each time you leave one, it breaks my heart some more.

He replied a minute later as I was switching my keys to the new key chain. Because as much as I wanted him to quit sending me gifts, that didn’t mean I was tossing this one.

Travis: I’m happy to send you gifts. You deserve every single one.

Me: How about we leave that for the man who falls in love with me?

He didn’t respond to my text.

The next morning there were no more gifts.

Nor were there any in the afternoon.

I kept telling myself that was a good thing.

Eventually my heart would finally believe it was true.

Hopefully.

Possibly.

Maybe.