Chapter 6- The Café

Asher's pov.

The red ink at the top of the paper felt like a slap in the face. I stared down at the terrible grade on my quiz, the numbers blurring together as I gripped the edges of the page until the corners crumpled in my hands.

It was a total mess. During the whole test, my mind wasn't on the engineering formulas at all.

Every time I tried to focus, those sharp, dark eyes from yesterday flashed in my mind, followed by the heavy weight of the lie I’d told. How was I supposed to give the bracelet back now without looking like a thief or a liar?

A heavy hand clapped down on my shoulder, breaking my train of thought.

"Hey, don't worry too much," Trevor said, leaning over my desk with a shrug. "You can get a better grade next time."

I let out a long sigh, folding the quiz sheet in half to hide the shame. "You got a perfect score, didn't you?"

"Of course he did," Brady said from my left, neatly putting his pens away into his case.

I leaned back in my chair, staring blankly at the board. "I wish I was a genius like you, Trevor. Seriously. All that studying just to end up with such a low score."

"A quiz doesn't determine the final grade, Ash. Cheer up," Trevor said, a grin spreading across his face. He leaned in closer and whispered so the other students leaving the room wouldn't hear. "Besides, we haven't forgotten about the club tonight, right?"

Brady zipped his backpack with a sharp pull. "Count me out. I lost interest the second I saw my grade. I need to go home and think about my future."

Trevor threw his hands up. "Come on! That is definitely not what you guys said yesterday. You definitely told me we’d go clubbing today. What sort of man does not keep his word?"

As Trevor continued to bicker with brady, my mind drifted right back to the bracelet hidden in my bag. "They make the best coffee in the city.” Leonard’s voice echoed in my head.

He had said he liked this café. If he loved the coffee that much, it occurred to me that he would probably come back again.

I glanced down at my wristwatch. The hands were hovering almost exactly at the same time I had run into him yesterday afternoon.

I looked at Trevor, who was laughing at something Brady said while gesturing wildly. He definitely wouldn't let me leave easily because I already promised to follow him to the club.

"Hey," I cut in, catching their attention. "How about we all go and grab a cup of coffee before it's time to go clubbing?"

Trevor blinked at me.

Brady looked equally surprised.

“You?” Trevor asked. “Suggesting extra social activity?”

“I just…” I shrugged carefully. “Need caffeine.”

Brady immediately nodded, fixing his glasses. "Yes, I was craving an iced Americano anyway."

"Fine, but make it quick," Trevor said, swinging his bag over his shoulder.

We left the campus building and took a cab to the café.

As we got out of the cab, I noticed bodyguards were not standing outside like yesterday. The front looked totally normal today.

"You guys go find a seat," I told them as we walked in. "I’ll order the coffee for us."

"Iced Americano for me," Brady said, already scanning the room for a quiet spot.

"Get me a caramel macchiato," Trevor added, flashing a quick grin before the two of them walked toward a vacant table near the center of the room.

I stepped up to the wooden counter, my palms slightly damp. "One iced Americano, one caramel macchiato, and a black coffee, please," I told the barista.

"That will be just a few minutes," she replied, tapping the screen of the register.

As I pulled out my wallet to pay, I leaned in slightly, keeping my voice low. "Hey, out of curiosity... did that guy who rented out the whole place yesterday come back in today?"

The barista paused, blinking in thought before shaking her head. "No, he hasn't visited today."

For some reason, I felt relieved. At least there was still a chance he could visit later today.

Once the tray was ready, I carefully carried it and went to sit with my friends.

As we started drinking, I kept staring at the entrance and out the window, hoping he would walk in. For a few seconds, my eyes drifted to Trevor. He was staring at the barista and winking at her, making the lady blush.

I shook my head, letting out a quiet huff of amusement before my attention snapped right back to the entrance

"Asher. Ash."

A knuckles tapped softly against the wooden table, startling me. I blinked, looking across at Brady, who was staring at me with a deeply furrowed brow.

"What is with you?" He asked, setting his straw down. "You’ve been staring at that door like you’re expecting a raid."

I looked at Brady, then at Trevor, who had finally stopped flirting to look at me. I lowered my mug to the table, my fingers tightening around the handle.

"I found the bracelet." I whispered.

Trevor gasped softly. "Really?"

"Yeah," I nodded, keeping my voice down. "But here’s the problem. Yesterday, Leonard literally asked me to my face if I had seen it. And I lied. I told him I hadn't seen anything. But then the second I got home, I found it under my pillow. Now I have no idea how to give it back without looking like a complete idiot."

Brady leaned forward, his analytical gaze locking onto me. "Wait, you met Leonard Michaels again? When? Where?"

The word "here" almost escaped my lips, but then I caught myself in time, my eyes darting towards Trevor. If I said it happened here, Trevor's sharp mind would definitely connect the dots and he would figure out that we were only at this café because I was waiting for Leonard. Then he would suggest we just give it to the barista to return it for me.

But I didn't want that. I wanted to return the bracelet myself and apologize for lying to him in the first place.

"I met him on my way home yesterday," I lied.

Brady looked confused. "You met a wealthy person like him casually on the road? That's strange."

Before I could scramble for an explanation, Trevor checked his watch, letting out a loud groan. "Look, how long are we going to sit here anyway? This place is so dry and quiet. It’s totally not my scene."

"We can just hang out here until it's time to go clubbing," I said, trying to make them stay.

"No way," Trevor groaned, slumping into his chair. "I am going to literally die of boredom if I have to sit in this coffee shop for another hour. There's no music, no energy."

Brady frowned at him. "What do you mean boredom? The three of us are right here talking, aren't we?"

"I love you guys, truly, but I can't do this slow-paced stuff today," Trevor insisted.

"Can we just stay a little bit, okay?" I asked.

Trevor narrowed his eyes at me. "Why are you so bent on making us stay? Why are you so interested in this café?"

My heart did a nervous little flutter. I knew If I pushed any further, Trevor would dissect my excuses in seconds.

I let out a defeated breath, grabbing my backpack. "Fine. Let's just leave."

We all stood up gathering our things.

As we walked out through the glass door, my neck felt stiff from how many times I glanced back at my shoulder, just in case Leonard showed up later, but he didn't.

The next day was Saturday, and the house felt suffocating by noon.

I threw my backpack over my shoulder and walked into the kitchen where my mother was cleaning.

To get out of the house without a long lecture, I had to use the only name that ever worked.

I told her I was heading to Trevor’s house to work on a major engineering assignment. The lie tasted bitter, but it worked, she just nodded, satisfied as long as I was studying.

Minutes later, I was in the back of a cab, heading straight back to the café. I knew it was a long shot, but the thought of the bracelet hidden in my bag and the lie I had told would not let me rest.

The café was quiet when I stepped inside. I ordered my usual black coffee, paid the barista, and took a small table alone right by the large glass window.

I took a slow sip of the hot coffee when my phone buzzed on the wood. I checked it.

It was a text from Trevor in our group chat: Guys, last night was so much fun. I already have a girlfriend.

I scoffed slightly and shook my head as I recalled how messy last night had been.

Brady, who couldn't hold his alcohol, got completely drunk after taking just a few sips of a sweet wine.

He started acting so weird. He had lost the ability to walk in a straight line and was attempting to explain the thermodynamic properties of ice to a plant near the emergency exit.

The moment things got complicated, Trevor left me all alone to take care of Brady while he went to chase after some girl. I had to drag a heavy, stumbling Brady out to a taxi all by myself.

Another text came in. It was Brady: I am never following Trevor to a club again.

I chuckled quietly and set the phone down. Then, I looked out through the window.

The view outside was captivating. The afternoon sky was a heavy dark gray, and a light rain was starting to fall, smearing the city lights. Cars crawled along the wet road, their red tail-lights reflecting on the asphalt. People walked past with their heads down under umbrellas, looking like shadows in the mist. Inside, the warm steam from my coffee cup rose quietly, fogging up the glass. The whole scene had such a lonely, captivating atmosphere that I immediately wanted to draw it.

I unzipped my backpack, pulled out my drawing book, and grabbed a pencil. I began to sketch the window. First, I drew the soft curve of the coffee cup. Then, I shaded the blurry figures of the people walking outside in the rain and the trailing lights of the cars. But as my pencil moved, shading the dark reflection on the glass pane, my hand acted on memory.

In the corner of the window reflection, where the shadows gathered, I drew a vague figure. Just an outline at first. Broad shoulders, a tailored coat, a stillness that didn’t quite belong to the rest of the scene.

I was just putting the finishing touches on the sketch, when a shadow suddenly fell over my drawing book, blocking the light.

A distinct scent caught my attention. It was a unique, heavy aroma of winter wood and fresh mint leaves. It was cold, sharp, and deeply intoxicating.

My hand froze completely. The pencil stayed completely still in the air.

Slowly, I turned to look behind me. The air caught in my throat.

Leonard was standing there.

At that exact second, the rest of the café seemed to vanish. I didn't see anyone else around him.

His eyes were fixed on the sketch, tracing the lines of the figure I had just drawn from memory. Then, they moved up slowly, locking directly with mine.

A sudden heat flared in my chest, and my heart started to race against my ribs. I was completely frozen under his stare, unable to look away or even breathe.