Chapter One
“Claudia! I hope you enjoyed your order?” June asked good-naturedly as one of her café’s regulars walked up to the counter.
Claudia grinned. “Of course. The coffee was superb as usual. Also, today’s special is amazing. What was it you called it again?”
“A ginger honey doughnut.” June answered. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure how liked it would be, since the ginger flavor a bit strong.”
“That’s the best part. Is it still available? I’d like if I could snag a couple, my husband would love it.”
June hummed. “We’re almost out, but lucky for you there’s three left. Should I go ahead and bag all three?”
“Please.”
Obligingly, June had her order bagged in the branded pastry sleeve, briefly accepting her card to charge it. Handing both of them to Claudia with a smile, she said, “Let me know if Albert likes them, and say hi to him for me.”
“Will do.” Claudia’s eyes twinkled.
The overhead bell let out a cheery jingle as Claudia walked out of the café, satisfied with her purchase.
June glanced around at the café, unsurprised to see it was empty. A glance at the hands of the analog clock behind her told her it was just past ten in the morning, which made sense. It was still within this period of the day that the café experienced a lull. They wouldn’t get much customers till the early afternoon.
Rachel, the only worker June had in her employ, was busy wiping down the table Claudia had used. Her slender frame was bent slightly as she worked, her dark brown hair tied up into a high ponytail above her head.
When she finished with the surface, she grinned at June. The smile was complemented by her perpetually rosy cheeks.
“Yay!” She did a little shimmy dance. “They’re all gone, I can finally make myself a coffee!”
Amused, June left the counter, switching places with the young girl. “You do know you shouldn’t be this glad to see our customers leave, right?”
“Sure.” She agreed airily. “Do you want your usual?”
“Why not?” June agreed, going to sit at the table closest to the counter. From her apron pocket she took out the novel she was currently reading. “Remember, not too strong—”
“Not too sweet, as per usual.” Rachel finished for her. “I’ve been working here for a year, you know. I know exactly how you like your coffee, down to the exact temperature.”
“Mmhn. And yet somehow you managed to mess up that one from last month.”
“Oh my god, it was one time and I hadn’t slept well that day. And it wasn’t even that strong.”
“I spent all night up afterwards.” June said dryly.
“Then you’re just a wimp who can’t hold her coffee. I was just fine.” Rachel replied, and June rolled her eyes.
It took only a moment to recall the page she had left off on, and she continued reading. The book was a dark romance, and it proving to be one of the best books she had read this year.
The scenes sucked her in so deep that she barely noticed when Rachel came over with her coffee, setting it down in front of her, alongside a plain jam doughnut.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.” June took a sip of the piping hot brew, enjoying the way it scalded her tongue just right. “Not bad.”
The light praise had Rachel preening. “Of course it’s not bad, I made it.”
Amused at her behavior, June returned her attention to her book.
Soon she had finished the doughnut and was left only with the coffee, which was already losing its heat. Sipping it quickly to avoid it growing too cold, Jade flipped open another page.
Her cup was almost empty when she heard it, a soft drifting melody that came from the outside of the café. It was soothing, calm, like a refreshingly light breeze. It caught June’s attention, pulling her focus from the novel on the table.
Listening, June tilted her head to the side slightly, enjoying the calming music. It wasn’t until a few seconds had passed that she realized the tune was Blackbird by The Beatles.
It was no wonder it felt so familiar. Her grandmother had been a die hard fan of The Beatles, owning almost every single one of their tracks and blasting them loudly while she worked in the her garden with June keeping her company.
A subconscious smile made her lips curve at the memory even as nostalgia and long lasting grief stirred in her chest. She missed her grandmother. She had died four years ago, leaving June the café she had run with her husband before his passing.
It still felt like yesterday, chattering in the kitchen while she watched her grandparents while they got dinner ready together.
Her visits to her grandparents house as a child had been a major highlight of her childhood, and the memories she had made with them were precious to her. It made her heart hurt each time she recalled she had lost them.
Letting go of the sad emotions, June downed the rest of the coffee.
Without prompting, Rachel came over to clear her plates. Murmuring a grateful thank you, she listened till the music ended. Immediately after it was over, the melody switched over to a different melody she was unfamiliar with but was no less comforting to listen to.
Rachel returned shortly after, occupying the table opposite hers. She scrolled on her phone, moving her head to the tune of the music.
“That new busker has some talent, huh?”
Raising her gaze, June nodded. “Yeah, they really do. Do you know them?”
“Yeah, it’s a new guy. I’ve seen him around only recently, though. Maybe he just moved here.”
“Likely.”
“Why do you think he moved here? This place isn’t a big city, he won’t make much busking here.”
Rachel did have a point. Their town, while not exactly small wasn’t large either. He would have more of chances of making more money in a much bigger town.
“Who knows? Maybe this was the only place he could afford.” June returned her attention to her book.
“Maybe.” Rachel agreed. “He’s hot though. If I he wasn’t much older than I am I’d have asked him out.”
June was grateful that the girl at least had enough sense to avoid getting into a relationship with an older person.
A few minutes ticked by, and then the jingling of the bell made June look us. There was a customer.
Rising to her feet, she slipped the book into her apron while smiling at the young man that stepped into the café.
“Welcome to the Orchid Café. What can I get you?”
***
The music continued for the entire afternoon, ending just before past three. June hardly noticed it, only realizing a while afterwards.
Closing time rolled over, and she and Rachel got busy cleaning the sitting area and the kitchen. Shortly after, Rachel left the café, leaving June to take care of prepping for next day’s creations.
Efficiently, June prepped the ingredients for the next day, getting it all done within a short period of time. She had done it so often over the past four years it was basically muscle memory at this point.
Afterwards she took care of the inventory, handled other necessary closing rituals and left the café, activating the alarm system beforehand.
It was twilight, and the sun was low in the horizon. The sky was bathed in a lovely mix of dusky gold and magenta. A waxing crescent sat in the midst of it all, surrounded by stars.
Taking in the lovely sight, June hummed beneath her breath. She could tell it was going to be a beautiful night—
“Oh!” June gasped as she bumped hard against what felt like a wall. “Ow, shit.”
“Crap, I’m sorry. Are you alright?” A masculine voice inquired.
“Yes.” June felt firm hands settle on her shoulders to steady her. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. Are you alright?”
“Yeah. I’m alright.”
Looking up at the person she had bumped into, June blinked in surprise.
Oh wow.
June had seen really good looking people in her lifetime, but none of them really compared to the man standing before her. He was nothing short of breathtaking, every detail of his countenance remarkably attractive and pleasing to the eye.
With his dark, curly hair and honey amber eyes, sensual wide lips and strong jaw, he looked like an expensive work of art. Or the pet project of a very, very vain god.
It didn’t really help that there was something about his eyes, an alluring quality that sucked her in. It felt weird, odd, like a siren luring their victim to their doom. Only somehow, she was sure in this case it wouldn’t be doom. It would be something far worse, something horribly addicting.
Decadent.
Her gaze dropped to his lips, and she noted their full shape before she noticed they were moving.
Snapping her eyes back up to his, she blinked. “Huh?”
He was frowning. “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem pretty out of it.”
“I’m fine!” June swallowed thickly, stepping away from his grip.
“Alright.” He didn’t look too convinced. “If you’re sure.”
“I—I’m sure.” She confirmed.
The man looked at her oddly, watching at her with those amber eyes before walking away.
Exhaling a sharp breath, June turned back to watch him walk away.
What the hell had just happened?
***
“Hi!” Her younger sister’s voice rang loudly in the room. “You called!”
Propping her phone at an appropriate position on the table so she could see her well, June snorted. “I said I would.”
“After I nagged you to.” Felicity pouted. “Anyway, what are having for dinner? Did you cook or order out? I’m starving.”
“Neither. I had some cereal.”
Felicity clucked disapprovingly. “That’s not real food and you know it...”
“It sure as hell was edible enough.” June replied dryly.
“…besides, that’s a breakfast food. Everyone knows you can’t eat breakfast for dinner.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s false.” June laughed at her younger sister’s disdainful look.
“It’s not.” She tossed her head to the side, her thick coily hair an unmoving cloud on top her head.
“Mm.” June chuckled. “How’s mom and dad?”
“They went out to eat.” Felicity rolled her eyes. “I swear, I’m moving out of here as soon as I can. I can’t stand to watch them act all lovey-dovey anymore. It’s nauseating.”
“Cheer up. There’s only a year left till you turn eighteen.”
“God knows if I’ll even be able to last long enough until then. I swear to god they’re literally going at it all the time. One would think that after three kids and almost thirty years of marriage they would know when to quit it.” Felicity sighed feelingly.
Struggling not to laugh, June wiped the expression off her face as suspicious eyes swung towards her. “Are you laughing at me?”
“Of course not.” June answered, causing her eyes to narrow further. Unfortunately for her, Jade’s poker face was exceptional. She wouldn’t be able to tell what she was thinking.
Huffing lightly, Felicity waved the earlier topic aside. “Anyway, speaking of relationships… any luck at all with you?”
June’s expression was apologetic as she shook her head. “Unfortunately, no.”
Felicity tsked again. “You should find someone to date, you know. It’s kind of embarrassing for you that your younger sister has had more boyfriends than you have.”
“Ouch.” June laughed. “Fuck off, at least all my relationships lasted up to a year. The longest you’ve been with a guy is a month.”
“Can you blame me? Most of the guys my age are immature douchebags.”
She did have a point.
“Fair.” June conceded.
“Anyway, think about it. Objectively, you’re really hot. Plus you’ve got an okay-ish personality and you’ve got a steady job. As long as they can overlook the snoring and occasional sleepwalking, you’re the whole deal.”
“Thanks.” June said wryly, holding back from rolling her eyes. Fine, it was maybe true that she snored, but that only happened when she slept on her back. And she had stopped sleepwalking years ago, growing out of it in her middle teens.
She wasn’t even going bother defending the jab about her personality. It was true, as long as it pertained to her siblings. Her brother most especially tended to bring out the worst in her.
Thankfully, his annoying characteristics seemed to have toned down with age, his instinct to piss her off waning with the need to appear serious. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the same with her sister.
June chatted with Felicity for another hour, only ending the call after her sister’s stomach had growled loudly in protest.
“Go get dinner.” June ordered. “Do want me to order something for you?”
That had her perking up like an eager puppy who had head the word ‘treat’. “Yes, please.” She batted her lashes.
Rolling her eyes, June nodded. “Text me what you want, okay?”
“Kay.” She giggled like a maddened hyena, making June roll her eyes again. “Bye~!”
After placing the order for Felicity and paying for it, June got ready for bed. Settling beneath the covers, she closed her eyes and waited for sleep to come.
She was halfway asleep when she remembered Felicity urging her to find a boyfriend. Snorting, she sank further into a deep slumber.
June dreamt of unsettling topaz eyes and wide, expressive lips that ghosted over hers, tracing faint patterns onto her skin.
They tingled.
