Claimed By The Alpha Queen

Chapter 3: The Man Behind The Counter

CHAPTER THREE

THE MAN BEHIND THE COUNTER

TALIA

By the time I reached the town, I was tired enough to stop thinking about how far I had come. All I wanted was somewhere quiet to sit and something to eat. I looked around.

The town was small and peaceful. People walked along the streets, going about their normal lives. Nobody stopped to stare at me. Nobody greeted me with a title. Nobody knew who I was.

For the first time since leaving, I smiled. "This is what I wanted."

I adjusted the strap of my bag and continued walking.

Then I saw a café. I stopped in front of it and looked through the window. It wasn't anything fancy, but it looked warm and comfortable. My stomach growled.

"All right. Food first." I pushed the door open. A small bell rang above me.

"Be right with you." I looked toward the counter. A man was busy with something, his back turned toward me.

I waited. A few seconds passed, then a minute.

I cleared my throat. He didn't turn around.

"Excuse me?" "One second."

His voice was calm, but he didn't sound particularly interested.

I waited again. Another minute passed.

I looked around the café, then back at him.

"Are you going to serve me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice level.

He finally turned around. He looked at me for a moment. "You're going to have to wait."

"I've been waiting." The words came out sharper than I meant.

"And I said I'd be with you in a second." He sounded annoyed.

"That was several minutes ago." I crossed my arms. He sighed and walked toward me. "Okay. What would you like?"

"An apology would be a good start." I met his eyes.

His eyebrows lifted. "For what?"

"For making me stand there waiting." My tone was dry.

"I was busy." He shrugged like that explained everything.

"You could have told me." I said it quietly.

"I did." He didn't even look up.

"No, you didn't." I shook my head.

"I said I'd be with you in a second." His voice was flat.

"That doesn't count." I glared at him.

He stared at me. "Apparently, nothing counts with you."

I crossed my arms. "I haven't even been here five minutes, and you're already being rude."

"You started the argument." He finally met my eyes.

"I did not." My voice rose a little.

"You walked in already annoyed." He leaned against the counter.

"I walked in hungry." I shot back.

"Same thing." He smirked.

I stared at him, he stared back. For a second, neither of us said anything.

Then he shook his head. "You're serious."

"Very." I didn't blink.

"All right." He let out a deep breath.

He picked up a menu and handed it to me. "Here."

I took it. My fingers brushed his for a half a second.

"Thank you." I said it quietly.

"You're welcome." He said it even quieter.

I turned toward an empty table. "Finally." I muttered under my breath.

I heard him mutter something behind me, I turned around. "What did you say?"

"Nothing." He looked away so fast.

"You said something." I crossed my arms.

"I said nothing." He shrugged.

I narrowed my eyes. "You're annoying."

"And you're still standing here." He leaned against the counter like he had all day. I looked at him for another second before walking away.

I sat down at a table near the window and opened the menu.

A few minutes later, he came over.

"Ready?" He had a pen in his hand already.

"Yes." I nodded closing the menu.

He took out a small notepad. "What would you like?" I looked at the menu again. "I don't know."

He waited. "Then why did you say you were ready?"

"Because I thought I'd know." I sighed and shrugged.

He stared at me. I tried not to smile. "What?" I asked, innocent.

"Nothing." He shook his head.

"You're doing it again." I blinked.

"Doing what?" He set the pen down.

"Looking at me like I'm strange." I raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe because you are." He smirked.

I frowned. "I am not."

He smiled. "Okay."

"Don't say it like that." I crossed my arms.

"Like what?" He asked.

"Like you don't believe me."I gestured with my hands.

"I don't." He blurted out. I stared at him.

He laughed. "Relax. I'm joking."

"You're not very funny." I muttered.

"You're still here." He said it like that was the point.

I sighed. "Fine. Just choose something for me."

He looked surprised. "You're trusting me with your food?"

"I've run out of patience." I said it flatly.

"That's probably the nicest thing you've said to me." He smirked.

I rolled my eyes.

"I'll bring you something." He said before walking off.

"Thank you." I replied quietly. He turned and walked away. I watched him for a moment before looking back at the window.

Nobody knew me here. Nobody knew what I had left behind. Nobody expected anything from me. I could sit in a café and argue with a stranger without worrying about whether someone would repeat the story later.

The thought made me smile.

"You're smiling." He was back with two plates.

I looked up. The man was standing beside the table again.

"I am not." My voice came out quiet.

"You are." He smiled to himself.

"I wasn't." I looked away. He placed the food in front of me. "Whatever you say."

I looked at the plate. "It looks good."

"It is." He replied. "You sound very confident." I raised an eyebrow.

"I own the café." He said as he wiped his hands on a towel.

I looked up. "You do?". He nodded, "Yes."

I glanced around. "You're the owner?"

"That's what I said." He smirked.

I looked at him again. "I suppose I should apologize."

"For what?" He blinked.

"For arguing with the owner. I answered.

He smiled. "Accepted." I picked up my fork."What's your name?"

"Dominic." Be said it easily.

I nodded. "I'm Talia."

"I know." He watched me.

I frowned. "You heard me say it?"

"No. You told me." He replied.

I laughed. "Right."

He smiled. "I should probably let you eat."

"You probably should." I teased him back.

He turned to leave.

"Dominic?" I called after him.

He looked back. "Yes?". "Thank you." I said it quietly. "You're welcome." He smiled and walked away.

I took a bite of the food and oh my! It was good, really good. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until then.

Dominic looked over from the counter.

I noticed. "What?" I asked. "Nothing." He answered. "Then stop looking at me." I muttered.

"I'm making sure you like it." He sounded amused. "I do." I admitted. "Good." He added softly.

I continued eating. For a while, neither of us spoke and I liked the silence.

It was different from the silence at the palace. There, even silence felt like responsibility. Here, silence was simply silence.

When I finished, Dominic came over.

"So?" He asked, leaning on the table. I looked up. "So what?"."Was it good?" He look at the empty plate.

I nodded. "Very." He smiled. "Then maybe you don't hate me."

"I never said I hated you." I said it quickly. "You looked like you did." He raised an eyebrow.

"I was annoyed." I admitted. "There's a difference?" He teased.

"Yes." I said it firmly. He laughed and at that moment, I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

Then he asked, "Are you staying in town?"

I hesitated. "Yes."

"Where?" He asked. "I haven't decided yet." I said honestly.

His expression changed slightly. "You don't have somewhere to stay?"

"I'll figure it out." I shrugged. He nodded. "Okay."

I waited for him to say something else but he didn't and for some reason, I appreciated that.

I picked up my bag. "I should go." "All right." He said softly.

I stood. "Thank you for the food."

"You're welcome." He said simply and I walked towards the door.

Just before I reached it, Dominic called after me. "Talia." I turned. "Yes?"

He leaned against the counter. "Try not to argue with the next person you meet."

I smiled. "Try not to annoy the next customer you serve."

He laughed. "I'll try." I opened the door. "Goodbye, Dominic."

"Goodbye, Talia." He smiled.

I stepped outside. I had only taken a few steps when I realized I was smiling. I stopped and shook my head. "What is wrong with me?"

I looked back at the café. Through the window, Dominic was still standing behind the counter.

He looked in my direction and our eyes met. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach.

Neither of us looked away immediately. Then I turned around and kept walking.

Maybe leaving the palace was exactly what I needed.

Or maybe I had just walked into something I wasn't prepared for.