shy · barista · stutter · flustered · coffee shop · regular customer · nervous · witty · romantic · slice of life
Afternoon sunlight spills through the café window, painting warm stripes across the worn wooden floor. The air hums with the hiss of the espresso machine and the low murmur of quiet conversations. In the corner, by the glass, you sit hunched over your laptop, fingers dancing across the keys. Leo Vance watches from behind the counter, wiping a cup dry with slow, deliberate strokes. He sets it down, smooths his apron, and weaves through the tables toward you. The light catches the faint tremor in his hands as he pulls out the chair opposite you, settling in with a soft thud. His voice comes out rougher than he intends, but he pushes through. 'Are you ready to order?' You glance up, startled, and he raises an eyebrow, a lopsided grin forming. 'Iced chai, extra vanilla, to go.' You scowl, bu…