A Sip Of Love

2

Chapter 2:

The next time Raya stepped into the West Land coffee shop, it felt less like a place she had stumbled into out of necessity and more like a quiet refuge she was beginning to seek out.

It was a Thursday morning, and the soft autumn light filtered through the windows, casting a gentle glow across the room. The smell of freshly ground coffee beans filled the air, mixing with the comforting scent of baked pastries. The sound of soft jazz hummed in the background, the kind of music that made you feel like you had all the time in the world.

She hesitated for a moment at the door, as if the familiar surroundings might somehow shift in her absence. But when she stepped inside, the warmth immediately wrapped around her, and her breath felt a little lighter.

“Good morning, Raya.”

The greeting came before she even reached the counter, and her heart skipped a beat at the sound of her name. Travis was standing behind the counter, his casual smile effortlessly drawing her in.

"Hi," she said, her voice slightly tentative as she approached him. She hadn’t expected him to remember her name, let alone greet her as if she’d been coming here for years. It felt… oddly nice.

“Back for your cappuccino?” Travis asked, already reaching for the cups, his fingers brushing the smooth ceramic with practiced ease.

Raya blinked, caught off guard by the familiarity of it. "I, uh... yeah. I guess I’ve become predictable," she said, half-smiling.

“Not predictable,” Travis replied, his tone easy and warm. “Just someone with good taste.”

Raya chuckled, the sound a little foreign to her, but it felt good to let it slip out. She had almost forgotten what it was like to laugh without it feeling forced. Travis’s easygoing nature had a way of coaxing out that unguarded part of her that had been dormant for too long.

“I’ll have the usual,” she said, after a beat of considering something else, but ultimately deciding on the comfort of what she knew.

“Got it.” Travis winked at her, moving to prepare the drink.

As he worked, Raya found herself standing there, a little unsure of what to do. The shop was quiet today, just a few patrons scattered around—some reading, others typing away on laptops—but she couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of unease. It wasn’t like her to visit places more than once. She preferred staying in the shadows of her routine, not letting anything too personal slip in.

But there was something about this place… and maybe more so about Travis.

He was easy to talk to, and even though she wasn’t ready to dive into her life or explain what she was running from, she felt like she could breathe a little easier here. There was no pressure to be anything other than what she was—quiet, a little lost, but trying.

“Here you go,” Travis said, handing her the cappuccino. “Your usual.”

Raya accepted the cup, her fingers brushing his for a brief second. It was just a quick touch, but it sent a small ripple of warmth through her, and she caught herself lingering there for a moment longer than necessary.

“Thanks,” she said softly, her eyes meeting his for just a second longer than she expected. She wondered if he could tell that she was still unsure of herself—that beneath the surface, she wasn’t quite as composed as she appeared.

"No problem," Travis said, his voice steady, not rushing her. “If you need anything, just let me know."

He stepped back a little, allowing her the space to retreat, but she hesitated for a moment. She didn’t want to come across as intrusive, but something about the way he spoke to her felt different from the way others did. There was no rush to push her out the door, no awkward politeness that she sometimes felt in social situations.

Instead, there was an invitation to just… be.

Raya moved to the same table by the window as last time. The rain was still holding off, and the street outside was busy with the usual mix of people hurrying on their way. She could hear the soft tap of fingers on a keyboard from a few tables away, the low murmur of conversations blending into the background.

She took a slow sip of the cappuccino, feeling the warmth slide through her. The sweetness of the foam was a little comforting, a tiny gesture of indulgence that she hadn’t allowed herself in a long time.

As she set the cup down, she glanced back toward the counter. Travis was still at work, moving fluidly behind the counter, preparing drinks for a few other customers. But his eyes lifted every now and then, and when they did, they found hers for just a moment. She couldn’t quite tell if it was intentional or if it was just a natural part of his ease with people, but it made her feel like he was aware of her—like she wasn’t just another face in the crowd.

Raya swallowed another sip, unsure what to make of the feeling that had settled over her. It was subtle but undeniable—a shift, something that hadn’t been there before.

She’d only just begun to open up to the idea of change, but now, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to shut the door on something new so quickly.

It was strange, really. How one small act of kindness—remembering her name, remembering her order—could feel like the opening of a door she hadn’t even known she needed to walk through.

"How's the coffee?" Travis’s voice broke through her thoughts, and she turned to see him standing a little closer now, a new cup of coffee in his hand that he placed gently on the counter next to her.

Raya blinked, confused at first, before her gaze moved down to the cup. "You made me another one?"

He shrugged, his smile never faltering. “I just thought… you might want a refill.”

Raya’s breath caught for a second. She wasn’t sure why the small gesture felt so significant, but it did. It wasn’t about the coffee. It was about him—about Travis noticing her without trying to make her feel like a spectacle.

“That’s... very kind of you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course,” he said, with that same easy smile, as if this was just part of the rhythm of his day. “We take care of our regulars around here.”

She smiled, a little surprised by the way the words settled in her chest. “Well, I’m not sure I’m a regular yet.”

“Give it time,” Travis said, his eyes glinting with quiet humor. “You’re already halfway there.”

Raya took another sip of the cappuccino, feeling the soft warmth settle in her chest. This time, it wasn’t just the drink that was comforting her.

It was the kindness.

It was the idea that maybe, just maybe, she didn’t have to figure everything out all at once. There was no need for grand gestures, no rush to heal—just small, simple moments of peace.

And for now, that was enough.