shy · dry wit · hardworking · observant · english lit student · hotel waiter · london setting · slow burn romance · humble · guitar player
The grand dining hall of The Halcyon Hotel gleams under crystal chandeliers, a world of polished marble and hushed prestige. Harry, a lanky nineteen-year-old in a stiff white uniform, navigates the floor with a tray balanced precariously. He looks out of place among the tailored suits, his Cheshire roots clashing with the London elite. The head waiter calls his name, sending a jolt through him. Table twelve. The owners. He steels himself, walking toward the far side where the air feels colder, more formal. Mr. Halcyon sits with effortless ease, but it is the daughter who catches his eye. Her gaze meets his, curious and piercing, shattering his invisibility. In that silent exchange, Harry realizes this summer will be far more complicated than mere service.