"Is This How It’s Going to Be Every Day?"

The morning sun filtered through a thin veil of mist, casting a soft gold glow over Valemont Bridge. The structure loomed ahead—old wooden beams worn thin by years of rain, the stone pillars dark with moss. The sound of rushing water below filled the air, mixing with the chatter of volunteers gathering along the bank.

Mira tightened the strap of her tool belt, tucking her hair into a loose ponytail. She'd swapped her city blazers for work jeans and boots, but the determination in her eyes hadn't changed. Clipboard in hand, she glanced over her preliminary plans for the fifteenth time.

"Architect," a calm voice said behind her.

She didn't have to turn. Darian. She could practically feel the cool weight of his stare.

"You sound like you're announcing a crime scene," Mira replied, not looking up. "Is that your way of saying good morning?"

"Morning," he said evenly, stepping past her to inspect the bridge. His shirt sleeves were rolled to his forearms, veins visible as he ran his fingers along the weathered railing. "You're already overthinking it."

Mira finally turned, brow arched. "Excuse me?"

"You're looking at the paper more than the bridge." He tapped the railing, then the base support where the wood had begun to splinter. "These beams will need to be pulled before the week's done, or they'll take the rest of the structure down with them."

"I know that," Mira said sharply. "I'm checking load calculations, not sightseeing."

Darian glanced at her, his slate-grey eyes as unreadable as ever. "Then stop gripping that clipboard like it's your lifeline. You'll scare the volunteers."

Before she could snap back, a familiar, amused voice chimed in. "Oh good, you two started without us. I was worried we'd miss the fireworks."

Elijah strolled toward them, hands in his pockets, a lazy grin plastered across his face. Zuri trailed behind, her scarf fluttering in the light breeze, a bright contrast to the muted tones of the worksite.

Mira groaned. "Please tell me you're not here to 'supervise.'"

"Nope," Elijah said cheerfully. "I'm here to make sure Carter doesn't scare off half the town with his 'I build, you stand back' routine."

Zuri smirked, nudging Mira's arm. "And I'm here to make sure you don't end up throwing your clipboard at his head. It's called balance."

Darian exhaled through his nose, turning back to the bridge without a word.

---

By midday, the work was in full swing. Volunteers cleared debris while Darian and Elijah hauled out the first of the rotted beams. Mira oversaw measurements, kneeling near the foundations to sketch quick adjustments to her drafts.

"Move that marker two feet left!" she called.

"It's not going to hold like that," Darian countered immediately, lifting a beam into place with Elijah's help.

Mira looked up from her sketch. "It will hold if you reinforce the angle brace like I drew."

He didn't glance at her. "And it'll sink the second the river swells if you don't widen the base."

"Which is why—" she marched over, jabbing her pencil at the blueprint pinned to a sawhorse, "—the support piles are deeper here. See?"

For a moment, Darian said nothing. His eyes scanned the sketch, brow furrowing just slightly. Then, finally: "It might work."

Mira crossed her arms. "High praise."

He looked at her, deadpan. "Don't get used to it."

---

Off to the side, Zuri leaned against a supply crate, sipping iced tea she'd somehow charmed from a vendor. Elijah sat next to her, sleeves rolled up, dirt smudged across his forearm from hauling beams.

"So," he said, flashing her a lazy grin, "are they always like this? Or are we witnessing the beginning of a very weird courtship ritual?"

Zuri snorted. "Courtship? Please. Mira would rather throw him off the bridge."

Elijah chuckled. "I don't know… she argues with him like she cares what he thinks."

"She argues with everyone like that," Zuri countered, but her lips curled into a grin. "Still, it's fun to watch."

Elijah leaned back, resting his weight on his hands. "You know, this town used to be boring before you two showed up."

"Boring, huh?" Zuri tilted her head, eyeing him. "So what, you're the excitement around here?"

He grinned wider. "Absolutely. Ask anyone. I'm practically the entertainment committee."

Zuri rolled her eyes but didn't move away when he offered her his tea. "You're ridiculous."

"And yet," he said, leaning just slightly closer, "you're still sitting here."

---

By late afternoon, the first stage of dismantling was done. The bridge looked worse for wear but stable enough to begin the rebuild. Mira wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, smudging a line of graphite across her cheek.

"Progress," she said, more to herself than anyone else.

Darian joined her by the railing, his usual calm expression in place. "Not bad. For day one."

She gave him a sidelong look. "Is this how it's going to be every day? You quietly doubting me while I loudly prove you wrong?"

He paused, then allowed the faintest ghost of a smirk. "Probably."

Mira shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Fine. Just don't get used to winning arguments."

He glanced at her, those unreadable eyes lingering a fraction longer than necessary. "Wouldn't dream of it."

---

That evening, as the sun dipped low and the volunteers dispersed, Zuri and Elijah lingered near the edge of the worksite, still laughing over some joke Mira hadn't caught. Mira watched them briefly before turning back toward the bridge.

Darian was still there, rolling his sleeves back down as he packed up his tools. He didn't look at her, didn't say anything.

But as they walked off in opposite directions, Mira found herself glancing back—just once.