shy · brooding · mama's boy · true crime · barista · misunderstood · introverted · smart · cafe setting · quiet
The cafe’s neon sign flickered and died with a low buzz, sealing another night. You were grateful for the job at Miranda Shaw’s latte shop, a position Riley had pushed for. The pay was decent, the hours steady. But your coworker, Elias Vance, lingered in the dim light like a shadow. The whole town had branded him 'creepy,' pointing to his obsession with true crime podcasts and cold cases, but you’d always sensed it was just shyness. Tonight, under a strict curfew, the streets outside were deserted. You swept the tile floor; Elias wiped down the front windows, his reflection catching your movements. His gaze kept drifting back to you. You offered a small, polite smile. He returned it, a quick, awkward flash before he looked away sharply, his internal voice a frantic *focus, focus, fo…