Morning sunlight streamed across the café's brick walls, catching motes of flour dust that danced like tiny planets. I wiped down the counter with more force than necessary, determined to treat today like any other. Yesterday's glitter trail and the mysterious phone call were already filed under "probably hallucinations" in my brain.
Except the universe refused to cooperate.
"Good morning, Lila."
Elior leaned against the doorway as if he'd been waiting all night. His hair, somehow brighter than the actual sun, glowed in a way that should have been illegal at eight a.m.
"You know," I said, tying my apron, "people usually knock before invading someone's personal space."
"Knocking is for mortals." He flashed a grin.
I rolled my eyes. "Right. Forgot you're the patron saint of unannounced entrances."
He stepped closer, green eyes glittering. "Ready for Lesson Two?"
"Let me guess. More spying on couples?"
"Observation," he corrected. "It's an art."
Before I could answer, the doorbell chimed—a deep, resonant sound that seemed to reverberate in my chest.
A man walked in.
Tall, tailored charcoal coat. Dark hair so smooth it belonged in a cologne commercial. And a smile that made every head in the café swivel.
"Good morning," he said, voice smooth as melted chocolate. His gaze found me instantly, like he'd been looking for me all his life. "Lila Bennett?"
My heart tripped. "Uh… yes?"
Elior's posture sharpened, the way a cat stiffens when it spots a rival.
The stranger offered a hand. "Adrian Vale. We spoke on the phone."
Right. The mysterious caller.
"You—uh—you called about…?"
"A cup of coffee," he said easily, as if that explained everything.
Customers giggled quietly. Even Clara, who had slipped in for her morning latte, gave me a look that screamed introduce me.
Adrian's eyes—gray shot through with an amber ring—caught the sunlight, flashing gold for the briefest breath. I blinked, sure it was a trick of the light.
Elior didn't blink at all.
---
Adrian ordered a black coffee and settled at the counter, ignoring the empty tables like they were beneath him.
"So," he said, resting his chin on his hand, "this is the famous Cozy Nook. It suits you."
I fumbled with the coffee pot. "Famous? It's barely on the map."
He smiled like he knew a secret. "Everything worth finding is off the map."
Behind me, Elior cleared his throat. Loudly.
Adrian turned politely. "And you are…?"
"Elior," he said, voice cool as winter rain. "Friend of Lila's."
Something unspoken passed between them—like two magnets testing each other's pull.
Adrian's smile never wavered. "Pleasure."
---
Pippin chose that moment to streak across the room in a blur of glitter. Only Elior and I flinched. The sprite zipped around Adrian's cup, and for a split second the rising steam twisted into a perfect heart. Adrian didn't seem to notice, but the couple at the corner table gasped.
I pretended to cough to cover a laugh.
Elior shot me a glare that said control your pet, while Pippin did a triumphant loop and vanished behind the pastry case.
---
Adrian stayed long after his coffee cooled, asking about my favorite books, the best hiking trails, whether I'd ever traveled outside Riverbend. His questions were personal, but never pushy, each one making me feel—annoyingly—like the only person in the world.
Elior inserted himself at every opportunity.
"She loves local trails," Elior said when Adrian asked about hiking. "Knows them better than anyone."
"Do you?" Adrian asked me, ignoring Elior.
I shrugged. "A few."
Adrian's grin widened. "Maybe you could show me one sometime."
Elior's jaw tightened.
---
When my shift ended, Adrian was waiting near the door. "Walk with me? Just a few blocks."
Before I could answer, Elior materialized at my side. "She's busy."
I glared at him. "Am I?"
Elior lowered his voice. "He's not who he seems, Lila."
The words slid under my skin. "You barely know him."
"And you barely know me," he shot back. "But you trust me enough to believe in arrows and sprites."
He wasn't wrong, which made me angrier.
Adrian watched us with a polite half-smile, as though he'd expected this exact argument.
---
I finally agreed to a short walk. Curiosity, I told myself. Pure curiosity.
Outside, late-morning sunlight painted the sidewalks gold. Adrian strolled beside me, perfectly at ease.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," he said.
"Not really," I lied.
"You seem… interesting, Lila. Like someone who notices details." He glanced sideways, eyes catching the light again—just for a heartbeat, the amber ring brightened to molten gold.
I stopped mid-step. "Did you just—"
He tilted his head. "Something wrong?"
The glow vanished. Maybe I'd imagined it.
Adrian smiled faintly. "Sometimes the sun plays tricks."
---
When we returned to the café, Elior was waiting, arms folded. Pippin peeked from behind the pastry case, wings flicking like a tiny metronome.
Adrian offered a small bow. "Thank you for the company, Lila. I'd like to show you what real love looks like—no tricks, no games."
The words hung in the air like a challenge.
Elior's eyes flared the soft green of new leaves, brighter than I'd ever seen. Pippin darted between them, scattering a shower of sparks that only I seemed to notice.
For a heartbeat, the world shimmered, two invisible forces pulling at the same center—me.
And I had no idea which way I wanted to lean.