Crush

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ava

The coffee shop was quiet as it usually was during the late afternoon. It would pick back up as people got off work and began shuffling kids to extracurricular activities. Some commuters would stop off and grab a cup to get them the rest of the way down the highway. The high school crowd would filter in. Where they got their money at their age for fancy coffee, Ava would never know. Her mom barely offered her a decent meal a day let alone spending cash for fancy overpriced coffee.

Not that Ava thought her coffee was overpriced, but to a high school kid it seemed a bit of a stretch. She shouldn’t judge. Money all spent the same way no matter which patron it came from. Even though she had invested every single cent she had earned from waitressing into opening the café, she had never dreamed it would flourish. The first couple of years had been sketchy and not a day had gone by that she hadn’t thought about just closing the doors and never reopening them.

Somehow every morning though she’d get up, turn her oven on, and opened the doors wide. Baking calmed her, and she knew it was something she would do with or without the café. At least with the café she ran the chance at making some money for her passion. It had paid off because even though she wouldn’t be buying a mansion any day soon, she was living comfortably‒ something she never dreamed she would be able to do.

The oven timer dinged, pulling her back into the kitchen so she could take out her fresh batch of pepperoni rolls for the evening crowd. There was something she’d never even heard of before moving to West Virginia, let alone ever think she would be baking. The people loved them though, and the evening crowd ate them up. What the people wanted, the people got, so she put one batch on to cool, loaded another dozen onto a baking sheet and into the oven they went.

Her bell over the front door rang. Looking around she, realized Rachel hadn’t come back from running her errand yet so Ava made her way out front to greet her customer. When she pushed through the swinging door, she stumbled a bit at the sight in front of him. His height alone gave him off as a shifter. When he set his eyes directly on her, his eyes sealed the deal. They were a vibrant orange; a shade of orange Ava wouldn’t likely ever forget.

Trying to swallow the panic rising up inside of her, she made her way to the counter. Her hands were shaking, and she wasn’t sure when she opened her mouth if any words would come out. What was even more alarming was the look he had on his face. He seemed just as rattled by her as she was by him.

“Can I, um, help you?” she said, her voice barely even audible.

He cleared his throat, the dazed expression gone from his face.

“I’ll take a double espresso with cream,” he said finally, his deep timbre rolled over her body, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

Ava nodded and turned around to start working on his drink. She ended up dropping the cup the first time. Her second attempt was slow and steady, but she managed to get it right. Her eyes kept darting towards the door, hoping Rachel would show back up any minute. Every move she made, she could feel his eyes on her. Initially they didn’t make her feel creepy or scared, but after a few minutes she convinced herself she should be worried. Praying he would take his coffee to go, she held her breath when she handed it to him.

Much to her dismay, he made his way over to one of her booths and took a seat. His eyes kept darting towards her. Hers kept looking anywhere but at him. A few intensely awkward moments passed before Ava couldn’t take it any longer. She marched over to where he was sitting and decided to take control.

“I need to ask you to leave, sir,” she said sternly.

“I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong?” His eyes had a quick flash of disappointment before they flicked back to a neutral state.

“Um, no. I just, well, I can, um, refuse service to anyone and I’d like you to leave.” She’d never kicked anyone out of her store before.

She immediately felt like an asshole. Ava knew the shifters she had encountered all those years ago weren’t the norm, but this one was overwhelming her with his presence. She wanted to be close to him, which made her want to haul ass the other direction.

He slowly stood up to his impressive height. Even as he towered over her, the only thing about him that scared her was her overwhelming urge to reach out and touch him. Instinctively taking a step back, she motioned towards the door. He started towards the door himself before he stopped and turned back.

“My name is Terrell Peak,” he said.

Ava began to open her mouth to tell him her name and then quickly shut it. Then he continued out the door, and when it slammed shut behind him, Ava felt sadness wash over her. The dinging of the oven timer grabbed her attention and she was thankful for the distraction. Rachel came strolling in minutes later.

“I just passed this super hot guy outside. He was carrying one of our cups. Please tell me you got his digits,” Rachel chattered.

“Oh, um no,” Ava stuttered, never looking up from the pastry dough she was rolling out.

“Alright, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m working,” she responded.

“No, you’re avoiding something. The only time you bake pastries this late in the afternoon is when you’re stressed. Hot guy got you all hot and bothered, didn’t he?”

“No, hot guy didn’t do anything. I just thought I might have some cannolis for tonight, that’s all.”

“Whatever, boss lady.”

The doorbell rang again, thankfully dragging Rachel back to the front of the café and away from Ava. She needed the solitude in her happy place. In the kitchen she was in control, and she could create whatever she wanted.