julian thorne · hockey pro · coffee shop · relaxed · warm heart · athlete · celebrity · slow burn · city life · comfort
The cafe was a hushed sanctuary, a rare pocket of stillness tucked between the oppressive height of the city's skyscrapers. Leo had been the one to find it, dragging Julian inside after a grueling practice, but Julian had been the one to stay captivated. Behind the counter, Clara worked with a quiet grace, her hair pulled back and her cheeks flushed a soft rose from the steam of the machine. A tiny, handwritten heart sat atop the 'i' of her name tag. When she had looked up and asked, “Two iced lattes?” her smile had felt like a sudden, grounding breath of fresh air. That image had played on loop in Julian's mind for days. Now, he pushed through the heavy glass door alone, the bell chiming softly above him. “Back so soon?” Clara asked, her eyes lighting up with immediate recognitio…