Sophie tried not to look at the café as she and Emma passed it on their way back from orientation, but her eyes had their own agenda. Through the glass, she spotted him again—the guy with the guitar case from earlier. Only this time, he wasn't leaning against the counter. He was behind it, sliding a latte across to a girl with a wide smile.
"Wait," Sophie whispered, stopping short. "He works here?"
Emma peered through the window, smirking. "Apparently. And judging by the line, half the campus knows it." She tugged Sophie's sleeve. "Come on. We're getting coffee. I need caffeine to unpack all my stuff."
Before Sophie could protest, Emma had pushed open the door. Bells jingled softly overhead. The café smelled like roasted beans and cinnamon, and the hum of low conversation wrapped around Sophie like a warm blanket. She slid into the back of the line, trying to appear invisible.
When it was their turn, Emma ordered quickly and darted off to snag a table, leaving Sophie at the counter. The boy glanced up at her, his dark hair falling into his eyes. Up close, he was even more striking—strong jaw, easy smile, but something in his gaze that didn't match the casual way he moved.
"What can I get you?" he asked, voice smooth but a little tired, like he'd been saying the same thing all morning.
"Uh… iced chai latte," Sophie managed. She fiddled with the strap of her bag.
He tapped it into the register. "Name?"
"Sophie."
He paused a beat longer than necessary. "Sophie," he repeated, as if tasting the syllables. "I'm Ryan. New here?"
"Yes," she said, surprised he'd asked. "First year."
"Welcome to Eastwood." His smile softened, not just polite now. "It gets easier after the first week."
Something in the way he said it—quiet, certain—made her believe him. She handed him her card, fingers brushing his when he passed it back. The contact was brief, but it sparked like static under her skin.
Her drink arrived a minute later. "Thanks," she murmured, retreating to Emma's table.
Emma leaned forward. "Well?" she hissed. "Did you talk to him?"
Sophie stared down at the swirling ice in her cup. "Just a little."
Emma grinned. "Good start. He's obviously into you."
Sophie rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. Across the room, Ryan was laughing at something his coworker said, but when his gaze drifted toward her, his expression shifted—warmer, softer. He gave a small nod before turning back to the counter.
Sophie's heart fluttered. Maybe this year wouldn't just be about surviving college. Maybe it would be about discovering something—or someone—unexpected.