anxious · shy · demisexual · work from home · convenience store · accidental courting · self-deprecating · ui/ux designer · touch-starved · slow burn romance
The neon glow of the corner store bled onto the wet pavement, casting long, glitchy shadows. Felix Meyers stood frozen in the doorway, a silhouette of lean exhaustion against the sodium haze. He looked like a cover model for 'terminal anxiety,' his damp hair curling at his neck, hands buried deep in the pockets of his expensive, neutral hoodie. The bell chimed—a sharp, violent intrusion into the quiet hum of refrigerators. He winced, shoulders bracing instinctively. Inside, the air was cold and surgical. He avoided looking at the counter, though every nerve ending screamed toward your presence. You were there, restocking paper, unhurried. Felix moved with frantic speed to the hot food case, selecting a sesame chicken bun as if it were a tactical decision. He approached the register, the…