Chapter Two

BACON, BUTTERFLIES & BOY BEHIND THE COUNTER

The smell of bacon and fresh coffee drifted through the air like a warm hug, and my stomach growled. Hunger pangs.

Steve caught my eye from behind the counter and waved, flashing that smile that showed off the tiny dimple in his right cheek. Oh, what that dimple does to my heart, brain, and oxygen levels. Sunrise Café’s unofficial mascot. Or temptation. Same difference.

He had probably worked here even before I set foot in Outstanding Heights College, but he was the first friend I made when I arrived. And honestly? To this day, it still shocks me that someone like him chose to talk to someone like me. He was all dark intensity and athletic symmetry, short spiked hair, broad shoulders, lean muscle. While I was… well, me. Soft. Curvy. “Too much” in all the places that magazines told girls to be “less” in. Guys like him usually hung around slim girls with legs for days and curves shaped by Photoshop, not reality.

But our first conversation had been about sports—a lifeline I didn’t expect. I loved track, and soccer, and he was a basketball addict. Our casual sports banter turned into a friendship. A dangerous one because I couldn’t stop wanting more.

Berth always said I came here too often because of him. She wasn’t wrong. Half the girls who entered this café flirted aggressively with him, and it annoyed me more than I liked admitting. This morning, thank God, the place was nearly empty. Peace. No competition. Just the way it should be.

He was making an espresso for the only person in line, and I shamelessly let myself imagine what his mouth, the one he always curved into that customer-friendly smile, would feel like against mine. Would he kiss softly? Hard? Would his lips taste like coffee, or...

...Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope...

The customer grabbed his drink and left. I stepped forward, and Steve’s eyes landed on me. Something flickered in his eyes, quick, unreadable. warm? Curious? Hungry? Maybe all three. By the time I blinked, it was gone.

“Well, well… if it isn’t Little Miss Sunshine.” he teased, leaning his elbows on the counter like he had all the time in the world for me.

“Good morning, Steve,” I said, trying not to beam like a fool.

“You’re early today. Let me guess…” He leaned close, lowering his voice into that drawling tone that did things to my heartbeat. “The usual?”

“Yes, please.”

“Morning, Nadia!” Stacy chirped from the other end of the counter without looking up from her notepad.

“Morning, Stacy!”

“Hope you slept well?”

“I did. Thanks for asking.”

As Steve worked on my order, I watched him without shame. How could I not? With his tan skin, tattoos running down his muscled arms, and that firm ass God sculpted with intention, he was breathtaking. His black short-sleeved shirt clung to him in ways that felt illegal. My father would take one look and say, Stay away from that boy. Which, naturally, made him more irresistible.

He slid a tray in front of me: coffee and a plate of French toast with bacon, banana slices, and maple syrup. Heaven.

Before I could pay, he pushed my money back. “It’s on me.”

“What? Really?”

He nodded. “We’re friends. That’s what friends do. Go grab your seat. I’ll be right there.”

My heart shouldn’t have leaped the way it did. But it did. Friends...That word slaps me gently across the face every time.

I moved to my usual table by the glass wall. It was always empty when I arrived, like the universe saved it for me alone. I took out my books, laptop, headphones, and settled in to study as I stabbed a slice of bacon.

I was so deep in my notes that I didn’t notice Steve walk over until he tapped my shoulder. I jumped slightly.

“Oh. Steve.” I smiled and pulled off my headphones.

He nodded at my cup. “Refill,” then took a seat right next to me.

“Thanks,” I smiled.

He didn’t say anything immediately. Just watched me with this intense, unreadable expression, a tiny smile tugging his lips. Under his gaze, my skin prickled. Suddenly, I became hyper-aware of everything. My makeup, my dress, my hair that kept slipping out of place.

...Was something on my face? Did I look weird? Ridiculous. Dad loved this dress on me...

I cleared my throat. “Uhm… do I have something on my face? A stain? Or do I look so beautiful you can’t take your eyes off me?” I teased, rolling my eyes.

He kept staring. No blink. No reply. Just… staring.

...WHAT WAS THIS MAN DOING TO MY HEART?...

I shoved a big bite of food in my mouth, pretending not to combust under his gaze. “Should you even be sitting here? Won’t your boss get mad?”

“He’s always mad,” Steve said, shrugging. “Don’t worry. It’s quiet, and Stacy is covering. So… what’s new?” He wiggled his eyebrows dramatically.

I shut my laptop because who was I kidding? The man had declared war on my academic productivity the moment he sat down. Study Mode was dead. Steve Mode had taken over.

“Nothing much. Just school.”

“No guy finally sweeping you off your feet yet?” He teased.

I laughed, a real laugh, and his eyes softened instantly.

“I don’t exactly attract guys,” I said lightly. “I think they’re intimidated when a girl prefers books over batting her eyelashes.”

…Like you…

He scoffed. “That’s nonsense. I like smart girls.” Hope surged anew inside me, and just as fast as it came, it vanished.

…So it’s just me you don’t like…

“But you’re different.”  Or maybe the same, perhaps?

“Explain.”

“It means you’re… you.” Which was apparently the most ridiculous answer on earth, but it was all I had. Heat hit my cheeks, and I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear only for it to fall right back.

He chuckled, reached out, and tucked it properly behind my ear. His fingers brushed my cheek. Lingering. My breath caught.

“Nadia,” he said softly, “you’re a beautiful, intelligent woman. Any guy would be lucky to have you. Beauty without brains? Immediate turnoff for me.”

Warmth spread through my chest, down my stomach, everywhere. I looked away because if I didn’t, I’d melt right there. I licked my suddenly dry lips and there. I caught his eye fixed on the spot I just licked.

Clearing his throat, he stood quickly. “Well, Little Miss Sunshine, I… I’d better go before he kills me with his eyes.” He stammered with a tilt of his head toward the office.

I glanced over and burst into loud, unfiltered laughter. His boss was glaring like he had just watched Steve steal money from the tip jar.

“If eyes could kill…” I said between laughs.

Steve stared at me. Soft, slow, like he didn’t want to look away.“You should laugh more. It brightens the room.”

His voice dropped. His gaze locked with mine. He stepped closer, leaning downward, slow… deliberate… and for one wild second I was sure he was going to kiss me. My entire body froze. Heat exploded down my spine. My heart leaped to my throat.

…What if he does? I’ve never kissed anyone before…

He blinked, stepped back, and suddenly straightened. “I’ll, uh… see you around then, Sunshine.” He hurried off. My jaw dropped.

...What the hell was that?!...

My ears were ringing. My pulse wouldn’t settle. I packed my things in a clumsy rush and practically ran out of the café. Because if I stayed there one more second, he’d see the disaster going on inside me; disappointment, longing, confusion, hope… all fighting for space.

The truth? The truth was simple and terrible: I didn’t want to be his friend anymore. And if he had kissed me, even in that very public corner of the café, I swear I would have let him.

...Did he actually see me differently today? Did I imagine that spark? With Steve, nothing was ever clear...

Once outside, I checked the time. It’s still early, and school isn’t far. With a sigh heavy enough to crush a small city, I adjusted my bag and headed toward Outstanding Heights College. My heart, still not beating normally.