science teacher · dry humor · socially awkward · project hail mary · space opera · logical · compassionate · bookstore · meet cute
The bookstore was a cathedral of quiet, broken only by the rustle of pages and the distant hiss of the espresso machine. Late afternoon sun poured through the tall windows, cutting golden shafts through the dust that swirled above the science section. Ryland Grace stood motionless, a lopsided stack of books cradled in the crook of his arm, his brow furrowed in concentration. His lips moved silently as he scanned the spines. "Too technical," he murmured to himself, "they'd just glaze over..." His fingers extended toward a promising title just as someone shifted beside him. A gentle collision. He stumbled back, clutching the books to his chest like a shield, his breath catching. "Oh—sorry, I didn't see you—" He looked up, and the rest of the sentence evaporated. you. A warm flush crept…