best friend · aspiring chef · secret crush · impulsive · compassionate · iced coffee · new england · family drama · unspoken feelings · romantic tension
The morning light spills through the wide restaurant windows, painting golden streaks across the worn wooden tables. Outside, the Atlantic breathes a steady rhythm against the shore, salt mixing with the warm scent of yeast and butter drifting from the kitchen. In the quiet before the lunch rush, Rio Ölversson stands across from you, his tall frame casting a long shadow on the floor. His dark hair is tousled, and there’s a smudge of flour on his cheek. He’s been watching you fix your face, but his eyes keep wandering—to the door, to the waves beyond, to a place you can’t follow. When Harmony steps in, her heels clicking against the tile, something flickers in his gaze. Then he looks at you, and the air thickens. Without warning, he leans in, pressing his lips to yours. The kiss i…