CASSIE
I told myself last time was the it was the last time. I would never see him again. That after last night, after breakfast this morning, that'd be it. I would put some distance between us.
I would get back to my normal life and stop whatever this was before it turned into a wild beast I couldn't control.
But George, he showed up at the café again. And at this point I couldn't detect if I was angry or I was just trying to play hard to get.
His exuding warmth filled the room like he belonged there. Like he belonged with me.
And for the first time, I wasn't sure if I wanted him to leave.
I stayed behind the counter meticulously watching him, pretending I wasn't hyper-aware of his presence.
While he sat in his usual spot, one arm resting casually on the table, his phone placed right in front of him but untouched because he wasn't paying attention to it.
He was watching me as I cleaned the counter for the fifth time, arranged the staples and packed the dirty cups to the back.
I hated how much my own heart betrayed me. My skin felt warm under his gaze. And somehow, he had made this a thing… this unspoken ritual where he walked in, ordered coffee he didn't really care about, bore holes into me with his stares and waited for me to come to him.
And the worst part?
I always did.
GEORGE
Cassie was trying to pretend she wasn't unaffected by presence. She was failing badly at it.
I noticed how her shoulders turned a little too stiff, her hands moving far too quickly as she wiped down the counter for the fifth time.
She wasn't looking at me but she knew I was there.
She always knew.
I let her pretend for a few more minutes before finally pushing back my chair and walking toward the counter.
She didn't look up. "You know, there are other cafés in this city."
I smirked. "Yeah, but this one has you in it."
Her hands froze for a while before she sighed and finally met my gaze.
"Flattery doesn't going to work on me, Sinclair."
I leaned against the counter. "Who said I was trying to flatter you?"
She narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"
"Coffee and maybe some croissants."
"Then order it and go sit down like every normal customer."
I grinned. "You think I'm normal?"
She exhaled sharply as she shook her head in defeat. "You are the most annoying person I've ever met."
"That's not a no." I chirped.
Her lips twitched. Barely noticeable but I caught it, I always did.
CASSIE
He was wearing me down.
I could feel it.
The way I wasn't immediately annoyed when he walked in. The way my heart didn't just race but actually skipped and leaped for joy when he looked at me like that.
Like I was something worth keeping.
I should have hated that.
Instead, I sighed, grabbed a coffee cup, and poured him a drink.
"Here," I muttered, gently shoving it towards him.
George took it without breaking eye contact. "I knew you liked me."
I scoffed. "Not even a little."
He smiled smugly as he took a sip of coffee. "Lying isn't a trait you have Cas."
I guess that was true.
"Not bad," he mused.
"What?" I arched a brow feeling absolutely confused.
He set the cup on the table. "The coffee".
"Are you judging my insane skills now?" I folded my arms while ignoring the way my stomach twisted.
"Just merely stating facts Cassie." His lips curled slightly. "Impressed?"
I scoffed. "Not a bit."
"Sure." He set the cup down and leaned forward slightly, arms resting on the counter. "So. What's the plan for today?"
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"You think I have a plan?"
He tilted his head. "You strike me as someone who avoids planning at all costs."
"Wow. You think you know me?" I shot back.
"Better than you'd like to admit."
"Well, I have a plan" I blurted. "I just don't know it yet."
It sucked how much he was right about me. I didn't have any plans for the day or any day.
And somehow, a part of me wanted him to know me, every bit of me without having to say a word.
"Let me guess," he continued before I could respond. "After this, you'll go home, pretend you're going to be productive, and end up watching something mindless until you fall asleep."
I narrowed my eyes. "That's… erm. Not true!"
"That's exactly what you were going to do," he finished smoothly with a smug smile.
I let out an exaggerated sigh. "You're exhausting."
"And you love it."
I rolled my eyes. "You're absolutely delusional."
He smirked. "Well, it doesn't count if I'm right."
'God, he was infuriating.' I muttered to myself
GEORGE
Cassie was so close to letting her walls crack, I looked forward to when it all comes crashing like the London bridge.
I could see it in the way her fingers curled around the edge of the counter. The way she lingered instead of walking away. The way her mouth opened, like she wanted to say something, but then snapped them shut.
I had spent enough time around her to know she was fighting herself and her heart was definitely betraying her each passing time.
And for once, I didn't push. It was best to let her cave completely.
Instead, I straightened, reaching for my wallet. "Alright. I'll let you get back to pretending you don't like me."
She rolled her eyes as she folded her arms.
I pulled out some cash, setting it on the counter. "For the coffee."
She frowned. "It's two bucks. You put down fifty dollars."
"Yeah, I'm aware. Keep the change."
"George", She snapped.
I was already walking toward the door. "See you later, Cassie."
I didn't look back.
Because if I did, I'd see the way she was watching me leave.
And I wasn't sure if I could handle that.
CASSIE
I stared at the fifty-dollar bill laying on the counter for at least a minute before shoving it into the tip jar.
He was so annoying. And I can't even say that I'm mad about it.
Because I honestly wanted to see him again.
Later That Night
The sun had set and I had worn my pajamas, getting ready to brush my teeth then proceed to mindlessly binge watch a series.
Then, George crossed my mind. I should have closed my laptop and just gone to sleep early.
Instead, I stared at my phone as the cursor blinked in the empty message box.
I started pacing around aimlessly. 'I shouldn't text him. I won't text him.'
But
> > You're still annoying. <<
Every bone of my body cringed as soon as I hit the send button.
Seconds later, my phone vibrated.
>> George: You miss me already? <<
I sighed.
>> Absolutely not. <<
>> Maybe <<
George: As it should be.
______
CASSIE
The next morning, I woke up to another text from George. I had slept off earlier so I missed the numerous calls from George.
<< George: Good morning, Sunshine! Coffee? >>
I stared at my phone, groggy, saw throat and half-covered in blankets.
I wanted to ignored him but instead, I found myself typing back.
>> Some of us have work, Sinclair. <<
His response came almost instantly.
>> George: And some of us own businesses and make our own schedules, Davidson. <<
I rolled my eyes. Of course he did.
>> Good for you. Some of us have to survive from pay checks to pay checks. <<
>> George: Which is why I'm offering to buy you coffee. <<
I hesitated a bit.
This wasn't such a bad idea.
>> Fine. But I'm not dressing up for you. <<
George: I'd be disappointed if you did.
My stomach flipped every time we talked, I loved his company. And well I lied about having work today. It's not my shift toady.
GEORGE
She came late on purpose.
I knew it the moment I saw her walk into the café, her arms crossed like she had to prove a point to me.
She spotted me in the back corner, exhaled like she was already regretting this, and sat down across from me.
"No Gold cappuccino, right?" she asked dryly.
I smirked. "Not today."
She eyed the drink in front of me. "What did you order?"
"Civet coffee."
She looked genuinely confused. "You own private jets, but you drink plain coffee?"
I smirked. "it's not plain coffee, but…"
I leaned back, amused. "Would it impress you more if I ordered something ridiculous?"
Cassie folded her arms. "Depends. Can you say venti caramel oat milk macchiato with four pumps of vanilla without cringing?"
I raised an eyebrow. "That's not a real drink. Moreover, I'm lactose intolerant."
"Oh, it is." She smirked. "And I'd pay good money to watch you order it."
I chuckled. "You like making me suffer, don't you?"
She picked up her cup. "Immensely."
For some reason, I found that attractive. Everything she did was extremely attractive to me.
Oh God, help me. Because I'm a finished man.
She loved the coffee.
She nodded. "Mhmm, if it's not plain coffee, what type of coffee is this?"
A grin plastered on my face because I knew she'd freak out with what I was about to say.
"it's called Kopiu Luwak, also known as civet coffee. It is made from coffee beans which have been eaten and digested by a civet. A small cat-like animal."
"The beans from the droppings of the animal are then cleaned and roasted to reduce bitterness." I added.
I watched as her face scrunched up, and the mouthful of coffee in her mouth stopped going downward. She gave me a dead stare looked around the coffee shop then painfully swallowed the remaining coffee in her mouth.
She sighed and gave a wry smile as she shook her head in disdain. "Rich people and shitty food"
While I, I was enjoying this scene way too much. I hadn't even ordered civet coffee. I had black coffee.
"You seemed to be enjoying it a while ago when you didn't know the origin" I burst out laughing.
I added. "This was the same reaction I gave when my dad took me for coffee years ago."
She kept looking at the coffee without a word.
"It had such a good potential to be my favorite." She said finally.
CASSIE
Somewhere between my first sip of coffee and my third sarcastic insult, I forgot why I once thought this was a bad idea, until I learnt the origin of my coffee. I didn't even know how to be offended.
Because for all his arrogance and ridiculous wealth, George Sinclair was… easy to talk to.
Soft spoken and easy going to be around.
I usually felt uncomfortable with being around people, but instead, I found myself relaxing. Laughing. Letting my guard down with him.
And that?
That was dangerous.
—
The morning sun slanted through the doors painting gold over us both. He put his arm over my shoulders, pulled me close to him and kissed on my cheek. I was completely awestruck but had to keep my cool. My breath paused for just a second but soon tucked it away like I were folding a letter I didn't want him to read.
As soon as we stepped outside, my resolve had completely crumbled.
"You lasted a whole hour without insulting me," George mused as we walked toward his car.
I scoffed. "That can't be right."
"Okay, maybe forty-five minutes." He replied.
"Better." I shot back.
His lips twitched. "Does this mean I'm growing on you?"
I opened my mouth to respond
But then I saw something, someone. From across the street. It was a man that looked so familiar it set all my body's alarm systems on again.
He was standing near the bus stop, watching both of us, watching me.
My breathing stopped.
No, this can't be happening. Not here, not right now.
Not when I was getting used someone new. I kept panicking inwardly, stuck in my steps, engraved into the ground.
"Hey."
George's voice was soft, but I could barely hear him.
Because I knew that face, brought back too many bad memories.
And suddenly, the past was crashing into the present, and I couldn't breathe.