Author’s POV

The sign on the door flipped to CLOSED with a soft click that echoed louder than it should have. The café felt different, quieter, dimmer, the kind of hush that made every sound feel intimate.

It was just you and him.

He rolled up his sleeves as he wiped down the last table, forearms flexing, veins standing out faintly under warm skin. You tried not to look.

You failed. Miserably. “Long day,” he murmured, glancing at you with that half smile he saved only for moments like this when no customers were around, no managers, no noise. Just the two of you and an electricity that neither of you had ever dared to touch.

“Yeah,” you said, but your voice felt too soft, like it knew something was about to happen before you did.