Second Shift was already lively when Logan and Ava arrived.
Morning light filtered through the large café windows, casting soft gold across the tables.
Logan sat down in the seat he usually took.
Ava sat beside him.
Exactly the way they always did.
No one questioned it.
Logan opened the book he had brought with him and began reading quietly. Ava wrapped both hands around her coffee cup, warming her fingers against it.
Across from them, Marcus leaned over the counter where Tess was working.
She had tied her hair back and was focused on preparing drinks, though Marcus seemed determined to distract her.
Jake and Bruce occupied the seats nearby.
And today—rarely—Ethan was there too.
He sat between Ava and Bruce, calmly drinking his coffee.
"I had time," he had said earlier when they asked why he was there.
That was explanation enough.
Logan turned a page in his book.
Then he glanced up briefly.
Raxian and Sable were sitting together.
Sable still looked a little pale.
Still recovering.
But she was there.
Which meant she was doing better.
Raxian had his arm loosely around her shoulders, keeping her close while she slowly sipped her drink.
Logan returned to his book.
The café hummed with quiet conversation and the sound of dishes clinking.
Then Marcus suddenly stopped talking.
He had been watching something.
Or rather—someone.
His eyes moved between Ava and Logan.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Oh."
Bruce immediately noticed the expression.
"What."
Marcus ignored him.
Instead he pointed casually toward Logan and Ava.
"You two."
Logan didn't look up from his book.
"What."
Marcus tilted his head slightly.
"You're always sitting next to each other."
Ava shrugged.
"So?"
Marcus's grin widened.
Bruce raised an eyebrow.
"Marcus," Bruce warned quietly.
Marcus leaned back in his chair, completely ignoring the warning.
"You two look like a couple."
Silence.
Tess instantly looked up from the counter.
"Marcus."
Her tone carried a clear warning.
Marcus lifted his hands in surrender.
"What? I'm just saying."
Tess glared.
Marcus softened immediately.
He leaned slightly closer to her.
"Hey, it's the same for us."
Tess froze.
Then she immediately looked away, pretending to focus very hard on the coffee machine.
The faintest trace of color appeared in her cheeks.
Marcus looked very satisfied with himself.
Logan finally lowered his book.
He looked at Ava.
She looked back at him.
Neither of them said anything.
Then Ava shrugged.
Logan shrugged too.
Couple or not…
It didn't really change anything.
They still sat together.
Still walked together.
Still spent time together every day.
The label didn't affect their routine.
So what difference did it make?
Logan picked his book back up.
But something felt… strange.
The word lingered.
Couple.
Logan frowned slightly.
An unfamiliar feeling stirred somewhere in his chest.
He glanced toward the window.
Raxian sat with Sable tucked close beside him, his arm comfortably around her shoulders.
Sable leaned into him without even thinking about it.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Logan watched them for a moment.
Then he slowly looked back at Ava.
She was sipping her coffee calmly.
Quiet.
Observant.
Just like always.
Logan's eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than usual.
He imagined it.
His arm around her shoulders.
Holding her like that.
The thought made something shift in his chest again.
Logan looked away quickly.
He lowered his eyes back to the page.
But the words weren't really sinking in anymore.
And Marcus, sitting across the table, looked far too amused.