♡

The fourth of July sale was making everything hectic, knowing it was two days away. She had to stay late with her father baking more often that week. The day before the town's annual fireworks show, Elijah came back and asked her to come with him to see the fireworks; they knew it was actually that they needed to talk. That conversation was on her mind after he had called her. But she needed to focus on helping her parents with the fourth of July themed desserts they needed done for the bakery and a catered order from last week. Forty cupcakes and cookies in total took many hands to prepare.

"I am so not a fan of red, white, and blue buttercream frosting after all of this." She had told her dad after the last night of baking together.

Heidi swung open her front door as they finished getting ready to meet the guys at the front of their apartment building. "You ready for boom's day?"

"Yes, but what I'm not ready for is the conversation I'm going to have with my boyfriend an hour later". Mina slid a jean jacket over her shoulder just in case it got cold tonight.

"I personally think you should give him a chance to make it up to you. Otherwise, it just proves his feelings for Barbara are greater than moving forward with you." Heidi's two cents made her think more about the pending conversation.

"Ok, we'll see..."

They stepped out of the elevator and onto the pavement of the entrance. They spotted Elijah's black jeep coming to a halt in front of them and waved. After they greeted each other, Xavier included, he informed them Danny would meet them there at the city's circle with his girlfriend. Apparently, they had something going on before the fireworks show.

It was a long hour before Mina and Elijah decided they should take off. Xavier and Heidi told them not to worry too much and joked that they would hang around until Danny got sick off them and left them on the curb.
"So...I'm sorry" he sighs, "everything that's happened, leaving for so long, hurting your feelings"

Mina sat on the sofa, feeling ready for the big question on her mind, "I know, but what I need to know is, do you still want to move on from Barbara?"

He choked on his words, not knowing what to say, "I- I.."

"If you need time or still think there's something there with her, then I want to know because I can't be on hold." Mina really couldn't put her love life on hold, and she especially didn't want to be his rebound girl.

"I don't want to hurt you, I really don't."

"There's a but coming," she chuckled half-heartedly.

"No, it's me, I can't get out of my own way." Elijah had to admit he was his own problem in this relationship.

"I see that, and I hope you do someday." she finally smiled and let out a breath. She was relieved this went so well.

He held out his hand for her and smiled back,"Friends?"

Being friends is the best choice for them right now. Who knows what might happen down the line. For the time being, he still has his gaze on her, even if he should actually be working on himself and what he needs. Mina didn't want that love triangle in her life.
"We kinda have to be friends if our best friends are 'together', in a way"

She laughed at his hand quotations on the word 'together', knowing exactly what he meant. "Yeah, but ya' know we would've been friends regardless, you got in a club fight for us."

He joined in her laughter, also remembering that night. "Respectfully thrown out, but yes."

♠️♥️♠️

Fortunately, the Independence Day sale was over. However, the festivities were not over. Someone's birthday was in the mist. Not everyone knew, but Mina was the most excited by it. She was preparing a special birthday dinner for him that same day.

Harvey was in peaceful bliss as he took in the sunshine from the top tier of his tower, like a mighty king.
"Happy birthday, mi gatito lindo de mamá" (translation: "mommy's cute little kitten").

Her parents sent her nice text messages about Harvey's birthday as well as Heidi and Geo, even Alden remembered.
"Seven already. You're getting old, baby boy." She reminisces about when she first saw him. Harvey was her shelter cat and thankfully adopted early after two years there.

At dinnertime, she gave him his annual boiled, sometimes baked tuna fish cut into pieces with spinach garnish. He meowed as soon as she took his bowl away, he could smell it coming. Mina wondered if he knew this was coming every year or if it was just a surprise.

Her phone rang, and she went over to check who it was first before answering. "What's up, Jean Noel?"

He asked how she was doing, and she perked up when she heard him having a hard time with the American lifestyle. She said he needed to give Americans a chance, "we're not all bad," she chuckled. He was homesick, and that was understandable.

"Would you like to come over for a drink? Maybe look at some real art"

Mina didn't know why, but the offer to look at his art gave her goosebumps. She hummed and pretended to think about it. "Okay, I'd like that."

He shared the address with her and waited patiently. She turned everything off and put on an oversized hoodie before leaving for her car. The drive was a little long, but the view was mesmerizing in their area, and the house was as amazing as she remembered it from the catering event. The gates opened as soon as her car was close by, she guessed it was him looking through the security cameras for her. And then there he was standing in between the opened double doors. He kept it casual with comfy shorts on and a plain green shirt. Mina really appreciated it, she didn't feel this was a romantic encounter, and this confirmed it. They walked together into the house, and as he continued walking and chatting, she asked him where he was taking her. He just gave her a small smile and told her to be patient.

In every room they entered and every door they passed felt so grand. This was what six figures a year looked like, mina thought it great that these people had all this, but how did they earn it, she asked herself.

"My brother in law is an anesthesiologist, and my sister is a French historian." She didn't ask out loud, but he felt that questioning mind of hers. She wanted to know how his family had this home.

"Wow, just wow," her jaw was hanging wide open, so starstruck by the accomplishments.

He stopped, and an automatic door revealed somewhat of a rustic gallery. Walls and more walls filled with brilliant paintings. "And I am the artist of my family and am proud to say I actually made something of my life without their help."

As they walked deeper into the room, Mina decided to explore on her own accord."What's this green screen for? Photos?"

He wasn't surprised she had found the setup he had been mowing on doing for weeks. "Yes, I do photography beside painting...and since you brought it up" he cleared his throat and, with one hand, grabbed a vintage camera up to his chest.
"I was wondering if you would want to-"

"You're saying you wanna make me your muse?" Mina couldn't help but smile wildly, she felt so flattered at the thought of being in one of his creations. He nodded with a grin playing on his lips. She took his free hand and led him to the adjacent spot in front of the green screen. Then, with a giddy pep in her step, she posed for the camera.

Jean Noel genuinely laughed at her silly pose. "That's cute, but I generally photograph more natural poses." He put the camera down and came to help her create a natural vision for him.
"Okay, don't look at me, look away. But leave your legs crossed just like this..." he gently positioned her bared legs.

She let her arms fall apart from her chest to a more natural position as well, grazing his dark hair accidentally. "Okay."

He brought her chin up a few centimeters with a lingering hand. "You can smile or give me a pout..."

She fluttered her eyelashes and smiled slightly. A flashback to their night from the pizzeria came to mind, and she wondered if he was thinking the same as her. His lips looked so inviting to her, and she almost raised her hands up to his neck to bring him towards a kiss she wanted to give.

He got lost in her eyes, her face, the look of desire she had. It was so enticing that he wanted to hold her in his arms and make her mouth submit into his kiss. However, he had already tried that once, and she only gave him a peck on the lips. This time, he would wait for her to make the next move. He was alright with what she decided.