Page 45 of To Love the Stars too Fondly

“Having you notice me because I had the world’s stupidest coffee order was better than you not noticing me at all.”

I was suddenly speechless.

Alex gazed at the floor. “After Chiara pulled me out of my depression hellpit, I didn’t feel much of anything, until I walked into your shop one morning because I’d left my to-go mug at home and saw you. You were this angel behind the counter with your beautiful hair and your eyes…. I was smitten. It was the first time I’d felt something since leaving the hospital. I hope that’s not weird to admit.”

I shook my head, my heart already softening.

“You barely noticed me,” she continued. “You were just doing your job. So I came back the next day, determined to get your attention, but it was in the middle of a rush. My brilliant, genius plan was to order the worst drink possible and see how you reacted.” Alex smiled, finally looking up at me. “You were so offended. I knew I’d blown my shot with you, but I couldn’t not come back. You were…God, I hope this isn’t creepy, but on my bad days, you got me out of bed in the morning. The hope of having a ten-second interaction with you was enough to keep me moving when I had nothing else. I never expected anything to come from it. You were just part of my routine, like seeing the sunrise every morning.” A pause; she smiled softer than starlight. “You never expect the sunrise to love you back.”

Slightly creepy, if I hadn’t been into it. Touching, because I was. Also, she’d managed to compare me to a sunrise in the cheesiest way possible, and my heart was brimming. “You suffered through shit coffee over me for two years?”

Alex scoffed. “You think I finished that god-awful thing?”

My own laughter matched hers as I rose and took her into my arms. “I promise to be an ass to you even if you order something decent.”

“Sorry our whole relationship is based on a lie,” Alex replied, though her tone was clearly in jest.

“I think we’ll grow past it.” I kissed her, the stale taste of morning breath a small price to pay for domestic bliss.

When I pulled back, she kept me bundled in an embrace. “So what’s the schedule today?” Alex asked. “You’re welcome to stay, but I understand if you need clothes. And, you know, there’s this fancy dinner place I think could be fun to take you to. Assuming you want to spend the night again.”

Her gaze held hope. Every part of me yearned to say yes, but one regret remained. It must’ve shown on my face with how hers fell. “I want to,” I said, my words coming rapidly, “but tonight my mom is actually going to be home, and she’s never home for dinner. She was really looking forward to it, and I can’t just…. You get it, right?”

Her expression softened. “I do. Tomorrow, maybe?”

“Definitely tomorrow.” I winced, though, to remember something else. “You’ll need to drop me off at the coffee shop so I can get my bike home. It’s still there.

Alex shook her head. “I bought a bike rack.”

“What?!” I leaned back, trapped by her arms. “Alex, you shouldn’t have.”

“It’s the least I can do.”

I wanted to argue. I wanted to fight her goodwill. Instead, I set my head on her shoulder, allowing myself to be doted on. “Thank you,” I whispered.

I really was something of a feral beast, still frightened by kindness. But Alex simply planted a kiss in my hair. “I like taking care of you.”

I had no response, just a stirring of deep affection inside me. “I can stay until then though, if you’ll have me. I’m sure we can think of something to do.”

“Well, let me prove that I can make good coffee,” Alex teased. “And then…yeah, we’ll think of something.”

I kissed her deeply this time, savoring the brewing anticipation.

Once evening neared, Alex set up the bike rack on her sports car, the device somehow not requiring any actual drilling.

“No harm done, see?” she said, though I still struggled to process the kindness of the gesture.

It was all so much. So new. So perfect.

Evening had settled when we finally arrived at my apartment, bike in tow. I remained still as she first unloaded the bike, then went around to my door, heart fluttering as she opened it and offered me a hand. I dared to keep a hold of it as she led me to my door. We stopped on the welcome mat, our mutual hesitation palpable.

“Tomorrow, right?” I asked.

“Tomorrow. How about 5 for dinner? I’ll pick you up here.”

“Yeah.” My cheeks hurt from smiling, sore from entertaining this growing, beautiful feeling. I hadn’t felt so brave in years. “So, when I tell my mom about you, do I call you Alex or do I call you my girlfriend?”

Alex’s eyes sparkled as they reflected the setting sun. “I kinda like the sound of that second one.”