“Yeah, just a few more boxes.” A quick scan confirms Lily isn’t in the kitchen, and the weighted sensation in my chest definitely isn’t disappointment. I saw her earlier. I won’t die if I don’t see her again today. Three boxes later and Lily still hasn’t emerged from wherever she’s hiding, and I’ve finished her delivery. Maybe I’ll drive by her flat later to make sure she’s safe.
No. I shouldn’t do that.
I yank the door open and shiver when a gust of wind hits me in the face. Staying in the warm café with the scents of cinnamon, coffee, and bread thick in the air sounds much more exciting than working, but if Lily isn’t here, I’d rather work.
As I’m stepping into the rain, a voice exclaims behind me, “Leo, is that the last of it?”
I suppress my instant grin to something more neutral and turn to her. “Yep. Not much today.”
She still has her hair braided around her head in a fantasy-esque style, but it’s frizzing around her face now in adorable curls. From the heat in the café or from the rain, I don’t know.Either way, I love it when it curls. It frames her cheekbones and sometimes a curl will brush against her lips.
“Thank you.” Lily grins at me, and my heart definitely does not leap in response.
It doesn’t.Much.
“No worries. I’ll see you in a few days.”
“But you’re soaking! You don’t want to dry off and have a cup of coffee before you leave?” Her face is adorable when concerned, big brown eyes turn downward, and her lips press together. Well, I can’t have her concerned about me.
“Only if you join me.” Gotta take any chance I get.
She glances at the woman with brown hair. “Gem, are you fine if I take a break?”
“Go for it. You were due one ages ago.”
Lily smiles and takes off her apron to hang on a hook. “You coming?” She pushes through the swing-door leading to the customer part of the café and holds the door open for me.
I shake off my daze from her agreeing and follow her. Hopefully I’m not tracking water and mud through her store. A quick glance confirms I’ve left wet footprints, but no mud.
“What’s your drink of choice?” she asks, appearing behind the coffee machine while I stand by the tills.
“Whatever you’re having,” I say. Then I’ll know more about her and get to take a tiny piece of her home with me. Even if it’s in the form of her favourite drink.
“Really?”
“Trying new things is good for you.” Only if they’re connected to Lily, though. Otherwise I stick to routine.
She rolls her eyes and grabs two cups. “Fine, but if you don’t like it, you can’t complain.”
I mime zipping my lips closed and watch as she adds tea bags, hot water, some sort of syrup, and frothed milk to each cup.
She sets the drinks on an empty table—there aren’t many—and I sit across from her. “How much do I owe?”
“Don’t worry about it.” She waves her hand before cupping them around the steaming cup. I’m jealous of a hot cup.
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.” She smirks and sips her drink.
My brows lift in surprise when I try the drink. It’s not what I expected. Kind of has a creamy vanilla taste with tea. Not terrible. Wouldn’t be my first choice, but if she handed it to me I’d happily drink it. “What is this?”
“A London fog.” At my blank stare, she elaborates. “Earl Grey tea with vanilla.”
Doesn’t exactly clear it up, but now I know what to order at least. I take another sip. It warms me from the inside while rain batters the windows. The café has warm lights and is calming despite the busyness. The drink matches the atmosphere, and I discreetly breathe in the vanilla scent. Okay, it’s delicious.
“Do you like it?” she asks.
I shrug. “It isn’t bad.” Don’t need her knowing I now, apparently, like her favourite drink. How do you make it? Can you buy tea bags with the flavouring or do you need the syrup she used? Her smirk remains as I sip more of the drink. Her eyes look like melted chocolate in the soft light; it would be a perfect place to paint her. She looks entirely too pleased with herself, which looks good on her, but I’d rather not talk about my new-found love for this random drink. Instead, I ask how her day’s going, as if I’m not dying to know.