Chapter 1
Ivan
Walking into the Cornerpost Cafe,I should have expected it would be overly cheery for the holiday season. The window display at the front is covered in canned snow with little paintings of Christmas trees and Santa’s reindeer leading his sleigh. On top of that, there’s a small, glittering espresso-brown tree covered from top to bottom in coffee-themed Christmas decorations.
As soon as I walk inside, I almost want to turn around. ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ assaults my ears for the 150th time this season. My need for coffee far outweighs my disdain for Frank Sinatra’s Christmas album, though.
“Grab a seat. We’ll be right with you,” a blonde woman says from the cash register. I grunt my response, barely looking at her, as I slide into one of the many empty tables and look at the menu.
I might not like the Christmas cheer, but small mom and pop cafes like this usually have the best coffee. It’s been a long fucking day, and I need that.
“Wait, are you coming to the party tomorrow night, Danielle?” the blonde woman asks. I don’t need to look over my shoulder to recognize her shrill, Disney princess-like voice.
“I can’t. Final exams are coming up, and I can’t afford to miss any time studying,” a much softer voice says behind me. This one catches my attention.
Her voice is gentle, almost angelic, as it cuts through the cacophony of jingling bells from the speakers. I turn to look at her, eager to see the face this voice belongs to.
My eyes linger on her, studying everything I can before she even notices me. She’s absolutely stunning. Her auburn hair is long and straight, pulled back in a high ponytail with a few strands falling out. I can imagine her instinctively running her fingers through her hair with stressful patrons. She’s in a pair of black slacks and a white T-shirt, covered by a red and white striped Christmas-themed apron that she somehow makes look less ridiculous than it is.
What draws my attention more than anything is the wide smile on her lips. Even though she’s just looking down at a receipt, she’s somehow happy. Content. She has tiny dimples at the corners of her lips, and I can’t help but admire them from afar.
“You’re always studying,” her coworker says, rolling her eyes dramatically. “How many pluses do they even put behind the A’s? One night of fun isn’t going to kill you.”
“It might not kill me, but if I don’t keep a 4.0 GPA, then I could lose my scholarship,” Danielle replies, laughing under her breath as she briefly looks at the blonde and then back to the register. “When I’m forced to drop out, my parents will kill me. So in a way, it actually might.”
I’m forced to look away from her as the blonde walks around the counter with a notebook in hand. My heart sinks when I realize Danielle won’t be the one serving me. I was really looking forward to talking to her.
“Welcome! Have you had a chance to look over the menu?” she asks, smiling broadly at me. Her blue eyes take me in, and Isee how they settle on my face before her pupils dilate. She leans against the table, and I see the flirty look in her eyes before she says anything else. “Anything off-menu you like?”
Honestly, I’d normally be into it. She’s good looking enough, and she seems like she’d be good for a night of fun. But my eyes are still set on the beautiful redhead behind her.
“I’ll just have a double shot of espresso,” I say, handing her the menu.
Her eyes stay on me for a few brief moments before she realizes her flirting isn’t going to get her anywhere, and she grabs the menu with a nod. I notice a little frustration in her step as she walks away.
Danielle moves effortlessly behind the counter, making a coffee drink for another customer, and I admire her as she does. Even though most people would find this work somewhat menial, she seems to be at peace in the repetition. I find myself wondering what’s going on in her head. What does she think about as she pours each drink? What does she study? Where does she go to school?
I want to know everything about her.
“Can you bring this to table four?” the blonde asks her, handing her a saucer with a small mug resting on top. She leans in closer and lowers her voice enough that I can barely make out what she is saying. “The guy was kind of an ass.”
“That’s my problem now?” Danielle laughs, taking the drink from her. The blonde shrugs, and Danielle just rolls her eyes before walking around the counter and heading in my direction.
Looking at her head-on, she’s even more beautiful than I thought before. She’s stunning, with a heart-shaped face dotted with freckles. All I want to do is trace lines between them and stare at the small constellations God put on her face.
“Double shot?” Danielle asks as she approaches.
I nod and move my phone aside in front of me, ready to ask her more about herself. Before I ever have the chance, she trips over her own feet and sprawls through the air. I watch as the smile on her face morphs, and she opens her mouth wide in a scream. Instinctively, I reach out to try to catch her, but it’s no use. There’s a whole table between us.
The steaming hot double espresso lands directly on my chest, stinging through and burning my skin. Danielle collapses on the floor, glass from the mug shattered around her.
I ignore the pain on my chest and immediately jump up from the chair to kneel on the ground beside her. “Are you all right?”
“I am so sorry!” Danielle promptly says, whipping her head around, her face beat red. “I am such a klutz.”
I reach out for her hand and pull her up so she’s kneeling on the ground beside me. She looks up at me, her gaze meeting mine up close for the first time. I swear, it’s like all the air is siphoned out of the room. Her eyes are chocolate brown, but they soak up every bit of light around us and twinkle like diamonds.
She’s so fucking beautiful.
