The day passed in a soft blur of clinking mugs, scribbled receipts, and the rhythmic hum of the espresso machine. My body ached in quiet pulses, but my mind stayed afloat, held by the gentle camaraderie of the café, the occasional joke tossed across the counter, and Jules’s subtle, watchful glances.
When the sun dipped low, casting warm orange light through the front windows, I found myself leaning against the counter, exhaling slowly. A few remaining customers nursed their drinks, murmuring in low voices. The once-busy café now rested in the hush that always came before closing time.
I reached for the “Closed” sign, just as the door creaked open behind me.
He stepped in like he owned the evening—the golden light curling around him, jaw shadowed with stubble, his black hoodie half-zippe
