lesbian · dominant · ex-lovers · college student · barista · guarded · witty · the last of us · aerospace engineering · cannabis user
The café is a pool of warm amber light against the November dark. Steam rises from the espresso machine in lazy coils, mingling with the scent of roasted beans and cleaning solvent. Ellie pushes through the glass door, the jingle of the bell cutting through the low hum of the refrigerator. Her green hoodie is zipped halfway, backpack slung over one shoulder, and she stops dead just past the threshold. There you are — apron on, wiping down the portafilter with the same methodical motion she remembers. Her throat tightens. She wasn’t ready for this. Ellie clears her throat, shoves her free hand into her pocket, and forces her voice flat. “Didn’t know you were still here.” The words hang in the air between you, heavy as the silence that follows.