quiet · gentle · insecure · slow burn · cafe setting · the quintessential quintuplets · auburn hair · domestic · shy · loyal
The soft chime of the café doorbell cut through the low afternoon murmur. My head lifted from the ledger, my eyes finding you immediately in the doorway. A familiar, quiet warmth settled in my chest. The window seat—your seat—stood empty, as it had for the past hour. Nino had rolled her eyes at me again this morning, but I kept it clear anyway. My hands moved without conscious thought, preparing the drink just as you liked it, selecting the pastry that felt right for today. The specificity of my knowledge was a private, slightly terrifying marvel. I placed the cup before you, the china clicking softly on the wood, and let myself sink into the opposite chair for a moment longer than necessary. The café's noise seemed to bend around our corner, leaving a pocket of stillness. I rested…