Happy Together

Que Sera Sera

But then, like a shadow creeping in at the edges of his mind, Lucius’s voice slithered into his thoughts.

She’s not going to save you, you know.

You think this is over just because she’s nice to you? Lucius sneered. Cute. But you and I both know she’s just waiting for the other shoe to drop. She’ll leave, just like everyone else. They always do.

Alistair clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “Shut up, Lucius.”

“She’s not like that,” Alistair said through gritted teeth, though doubt gnawed at the edges of his conviction.

Lucius chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with mockery. We’ll see. Have fun pretending to be normal at work. But don’t get too comfortable—I’ll be around.

Alistair leaned back in the chair, pressing his palms to his temples as he fought to quiet the voice. He knew Lucius was right about one thing—pretending to be normal was exhausting. But Victoria’s words lingered, a fragile lifeline: You’ve got a life to live. Don’t let him stop you.

He glanced at the clock. It was time to leave for work. Steeling himself, he grabbed his bag and headed for the door. As he stepped outside, the weight of Lucius’s presence hung over him, but so did the memory of Victoria’s steady gaze and unwavering determination.

For now, that was enough to keep him moving.

The morning light filtered through the coffee shop windows, casting a golden glow across the bustling interior. Victoria stood behind the counter, tying her apron as the familiar hum of the espresso machine and the chatter of customers filled the air. The day was already off to a busy start, with a line forming out the door as regulars and new faces queued up for their morning fix.

"Victoria, you got the register today?" Manny called from the bar, his voice carrying over the din of the shop. He was already juggling two drinks, his movements smooth and practiced.

"Yeah, I’ve got it," Victoria replied, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face and flashing him a quick smile. She was grateful for Manny’s easygoing demeanor—it made the chaotic mornings a little more manageable.

The line moved steadily as Victoria rang up orders, her hands working almost automatically. She greeted each customer with her usual warmth, even as her mind wandered. She couldn’t help but think about the conversation she’d had with Lucius the night before. There was something about the way he spoke, the intensity in his eyes, that lingered with her.

"Morning, Victoria!" a familiar voice broke through her thoughts. She looked up to see Francois, the older Hawaiian man who was one of the shop’s most loyal regulars. His kind eyes crinkled as he smiled at her, a newspaper tucked under his arm.

"Morning, Francois," she said, her grin widening. "The usual?"

"You know it," he replied, leaning on the counter as he handed her a crisp five-dollar bill. "You doing okay, kiddo? You seem a little distracted today."

Victoria hesitated, glancing at Manny, who was too busy steaming milk to notice. She turned back to Francois, shrugging lightly. "Just didn’t sleep well last night. Nothing a good cup of coffee won’t fix."

Francois chuckled knowingly. "A little coffee and a lot of perspective go a long way," he said, stepping aside as another customer approached.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of orders and conversations. Victoria kept herself busy, grateful for the distraction, but her thoughts kept circling back to Lucius. She thought about his sharp suit, his intense presence, and the way he spoke to her as if he could see right through her. It was unsettling and intriguing all at once.

As the morning rush finally began to taper off, Manny joined her at the register, wiping his hands on a towel. "You good, Victoria? You’ve been a little quiet today."

"Yeah," she said, forcing a smile. "Just... a lot on my mind."

"Well, don’t let it eat at you," Manny said, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "If you need to talk, you know I’m here."

She nodded, appreciating the sentiment. But this wasn’t something she could easily talk about—not with Manny, and not with anyone else.

As the clock ticked closer to her lunch break, Victoria glanced at her phone, wondering if she’d hear from Lucius. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to. Something about him both fascinated and unnerved her, and she wasn’t sure how to reconcile those feelings.

The door chimed as another customer entered, pulling her attention back to the present. Whatever the day held, she knew she’d have to face it head-on.

The day dragged on in fits and starts, the morning rush giving way to a slower but steady afternoon. Victoria moved between the register, the espresso bar, and the pastry case with practiced ease, the rhythm of work keeping her grounded. Customers came and went—students tapping away on laptops, couples sharing quiet conversations, and the occasional office worker grabbing a pick-me-up before heading back to their cubicles.

Manny was his usual cheerful self, cracking jokes and making customers laugh as he worked the machines. He always had a way of lightening the mood, and Victoria was grateful for it. But today, even Manny's banter wasn’t enough to pull her out of her head.

As the hours crept on, Victoria found her thoughts drifting back to Lucius. She replayed their conversation from last night in her head. There was something magnetic about him, something that drew her in even as it unsettled her. And yet, she couldn’t deny that she felt safe around him despite his words and actions—a strange, almost inexplicable feeling that she wasn’t ready to unpack.

"Earth to Victoria," Manny said, snapping his fingers in front of her face. "You’ve been staring at that coffee cup for a solid minute. What’s going on?"

Victoria blinked, snapping out of her reverie. "Sorry, just tired," she said, forcing a smile. "Long night."

Manny raised an eyebrow but didn’t push. "Well, snap out of it. We’ve got a big catering order to prep for tomorrow, and I’m not doing it solo."

"Got it," Victoria said, tying her apron tighter and diving back into work.

The rest of the day was a blur of tasks—frothing milk, pulling espresso shots, restocking the shelves, and sweeping the floors. By the time the sun began to set, the coffee shop had quieted down to a trickle of regulars and stragglers. Francois came back in the late afternoon, his newspaper now folded under his arm.

"Still hanging in there?" he asked as Victoria handed him his second cup of the day.

"Always," she replied, giving him a tired but genuine smile.

The evening crowd was sparse, and by the time the clock struck eight, Victoria and Manny began the closing routine. She wiped down the counters and tables while Manny handled the cash register, the familiar routine providing a sense of normalcy that she desperately needed.