"I just realized I haven't introduced the cats," Felix said suddenly, glancing around the cafe floor. "That is Lulu,the troublemaker. You met her already." He pointed to the orange kitten curled up by the bookshelf. "The black one stepping on her tail is her brother, Butternut. He likes you a lot."
Adrian looked towards the black cat, who blinked slowly, then yawned and stretched before pawing over to him. "He's been following me around all morning."
"Tsk. Ungrateful fellow. I took care of him for years, and he abandons me at the drop of a hat."
Felix gestured next to the counter, where a large tabby was lazily playing with a toy. "The fat one is Flash."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Why did you name him Flash?"
Felix chuckled. "I read this book about manifesting once… it talked about the law of attraction, speaking into existence, and all that. So I gave him a fast name, hoping he'll exercise more."
Adrian's lips twitched into a smile. "Has it worked?"
"Well, he climbs up the counter himself now. Before, I had to always lift him. That's progress."
Felix continued, pointing to the cats' sleeping area, where two sleek grey cats were loafing."Those two are Yin and Yang. They're twins."
"Fit... fitting," Adrian said.
"I think so, too."
And the white one over there is the oldest, Coco," Felix added.
"Were you also manifesting with Coco too?"
"Ehn no…" Felix laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's actually a story behind it. The day I picked her up from the shelter, she knocked over an entire jar of cocoa powder. Got it all over herself. I almost couldn't recognize her. It took days before I finally got her clean again."
Adrian gave a soft chuckle, shaking his head. Felix had a good relationship with his pets. His own guard dogs would never get into shenanigans like that— they were too well trained for that.
Felix walked back behind the counter to continue arranging the pastries as Adrian returned to his meal. For a while, the cafe was quiet, the only sound being the purring of the cats and the occasional clinking of plates. Felix carefully placed each piece behind the glass.
The last thing in the basket was the small box of strawberry cupcakes. He opened it, and the sweet scent of strawberries wafted in the air. It seemed like Adrian had improved the recipe. The cupcakes had two slices of strawberry placed like cat ears.
"Cute," Felix muttered. He picked up one and took a bite, his eyes curved into crescents as the taste of the cream exploded in his mouth. He looked up at Adrian, who was still sitting at the table. At some point, Butternut had joined him, and he was stroking the cat's fur.
Felix walked up to Adrian, a single pink cupcake balanced in his hand. "Here," he said softly.
Adrian looked up just as Felix leaned closer and held the cupcake to his mouth. Their eyes met, and Felix's fingers brushed lightly over Adrian's lower lip.
Adrian froze, his heart racing.
"Open up," Felix said with a teasing smile.
Adrian still didn't react. He could still feel the warmth of Felix's fingers on his mouth.
"It's really delicious. Or…" Felix tilted his head. "You don't like Strawberry?"
That seemed to do the trick. Adrian slowly opened his mouth and took a bite. Felix stayed still, watching him eat.
Adrian chewed slowly, his gaze also never leaving Felix.
When he took the final bite, his lips lightly brushed Felix's fingers— in a short kiss— causing both of them to jolt apart.
Felix cleared his throat, flustered. "Emm, I need to get back to work."
He ran to hide behind the counter, busying himself by rearranging coffee mugs and glasses.
Adrian remained in his seat, ears red. He raised a hand to his lips, brushing lightly where Felix's fingers had touched. A small smile tugged at his mouth.
Felix looked down at his hands,his paluse still unsteady. Was something wrong with him?
The rest of the day passed in a blur of cat meows and clinking cups. Customers came and went— some regulars, some new faces visiting the town.
In the late afternoon, not long after the school bell rang, the high schoolers rushed through the door. Many of them headed straight for Adrian, sitting around the table he was currently serving.
"I didn't lie to you, right? Pay up."
"He's even more handsome close up."
"What's his name?"
"I don't know. Who's gonna ask him?"
"Emm… Mr… Brother…"
Adrian turned to the girl, who was blushing beet-red.
"Adrian," he said in reply.
Someone screamed, maybe two people.
"Oh my god, his voice."
"So deep."
"My name is Bree," the girl continued. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"I can be your girlfriend too."
"Are you Felix's brother?"
Adrian was at a loss for words as he was peppered with questions from every direction. Felix, watching from the espresso machine, bit back a laugh.
He hurried over to Adrian's side, a tray of drinks in hand. "Alright, alright. You'll scare him, it wasn't easy for me to get him on board. What if he runs off?"
He shooed Adrian to the side and set out the cups on the table in front of the girls. "Try my newest addition— first cup is on the house."
He took out a notepad from his apron pocket as the girls sipped the drink.
"Hmm, this is good. What's it called?" A girl commented
"Grange," Felix said simply.
"You and the way you name things," someone else commented.
"What do you mean?" Felix said, clutching his chest. "I think I name things appropriately."
"Naming grey cats Yin and Yang," someone muttered under their breath, and the area erupted in laughter.
Felix bit his lips. "This time the name is actually fitting."
"Coffee, Orange, and Grapefruit. 'Grange'. It captures the essence of the grapefruit and orange."
Murmurs of agreement went round.
Adrian watched their interaction from behind the counter. Felix stood in the middle, spreading warmth to everyone around him.
As the sun dipped low in the sky, more neighbors trickled in before going home for the day.
Mrs. Carter from the flower shop brought two jars of her blueberry jam.
Grandma Betty brought a basket of fruits.
Grandpa Luke brought a fish.
And Mr and Mrs Taylor brought an apple pie.
All of them were there to welcome Adrian to Ashvale.