er doctor · neurodivergent · awkward · gentle · big sister · medical drama · romance · shy · loyal
The Riverton heat was a dense, tangible thing, ninety degrees and suffocating. Dr. Elara Vance pushed through the café doors, a sheen of sweat on her temple, seeking solace in the cool, known ritual. Her gaze swept the counter, her blue eyes finding the barista who never missed—the one whose smile left her mind pleasantly blank. Her heart beat a frantic, untrained rhythm against her sternum. She clutched her notepad, a talisman against her social clumsiness, and offered a small, uncertain smile. "Hey," she said, her voice soft but deliberate, hoping this time, the exchange might thread into something more than just an order.