“Nothing, really. It’s…they eliminated the bus line that goes past my house, so I have to walk farther to get on another line.” Oh gosh, you sound ridiculous. “And I sort of… It’s silly, really. I forgot that after the clocks change it stays dark longer in the morning…”
Ross took a sip. “It’s a bloody mess out there, isn’t it? With all the construction that’s going on.”
“Yeah, it is,” I agreed.
The arrival of my co-worker Beryl, who entered with a small crowd of customers, spared me from having to confess my fear of the dark.
“Sorry, I got to go,” Ross excused himself before I’d finished serving Beth and her team.
“See you next week,” I called after him and got a little wave back.
At least I had something to look forward to.
“Bye, Ross,” my silver-haired colleague called as he floated out of the staff room with both hands tying his apron in the front.
Our Minotaur roaster gave him a small nod and left the cafe.
Between catching up with Beryl and the usual morning rush, my shift passed in a haze.
Chapter Two
Ross
It was a cold morning. I had to take the long way around into the city centre. The blocked off road and massive construction site in Gillam Park pissed me off every time I had to navigate around it, but there was nothing I could do.
To make up for the time I’d lose, I’d decided to load my car in the evening and take the coffee for Scales & Steam home with me so I could deliver it straight away.
I liked to stay on schedule. Straying from my plan made me nervous.
Besides, Autumn waited for me. And as much as it pained me to admit it, I looked forward to seeing her every Wednesday.
That in and of itself wasn’t a bad thing, but I hadn’t wanted anyone like that in so long I couldn’t even fucking remember faces.
All I saw when I tried to remember past crushes washerface—her freckles, her hair the colour of autumn leaves, her warm eyes, and that adorable button nose. I tried not to think of her lips again as I parked the car in front of Scales & Steam. It was still early and the only people around were the city cleaners. Beth, a woman I’d met on one of my deliveries, waved at me when I got out of the car. She was the heart, soul, and backbone of her team.
“Alright, Ross?” she called over.
“Aye. You?”
Beth just nodded and moved on with her work, and I approached the cafe door.
It would have taken a more confident man than me not to feel his spirits soar at the look Autumn gave me when I entered. It was a bright, happy smile that lit up her whole face.
“I have the coffee for ye in the car. Want me to bring it in?” I asked her like I did every week. It was my little ritual. I knew exactly where the coffee needed to go and that I would never make Autumn carry it herself.
But I still asked, and I thought she liked that I did.
“Thank you, Ross,” she called over. “You know where to put it?”
She said it every time, enjoying our little game just as much as I did.
“Yeh, lass,” I told her and trudged back to my van to grab the first bags.
I know exactly where to put it. I just dinnae know how to even get there.
I carried all the coffee into their storage room in the back and noticed Autumn watching me.
“What?” I asked when I walked past for the third time.
