Stacy jolted awake at dawn, her pulse racing before she even opened her eyes. Through her rain-streaked window, the sky was still charcoal gray. She flopped onto her back, exhaling sharply.
Why couldn't she stop thinking about him?
That smirk. Those rain-damp curls. The way he'd called her "lady" like it was some private joke.
"Good morning, Stacy." Her mom leaned against the doorway, eyebrows raised. "You're up before the sun. Special occasion?"
"Just... couldn't sleep", Stacy mumbled, tugging the comforter over her head.
Her mom hummed knowingly but said nothing. As an only child, Stacy had always been given space to figure things out—even when those things involved mysterious coffee-shop boys with disarming smiles.
***
Rain lashed against the café windows, reducing the usual morning crowd to a handful of damp regulars. Stacy wiped down the espresso machine for the third time, her eyes darting to the door every time the wind howled.
Would he come?
The bell jingled.
And there he was.
Ethan stood in the doorway, rainwater streaming from his hair, his white t-shirt plastered to his chest like a second skin. Stacy's sponge hit the floor with a wet splat.
"Hey, Stacy." He shook his head like a golden retriever, sending droplets flying. "Think I could borrow a towel? Or maybe a lifeboat?"
She scrambled for the cleanest rag behind the counter, her fingers fumbling. "Y-you're tracking water everywhere," she managed, tossing it at him.
Ethan caught it with one hand, his grin widening as he scrubbed it through his hair. "Worth it." His eyes locked onto hers. "Had to see if you kept your promise."
"What prom—"
"Save me a coffee?" He leaned on the counter, close enough that she could see the rain caught in his eyelashes. "Or was that just something you say to all your drowning customers?"
Stacy's cheeks burned. "Black coffee, Less sugar?" she shot back, reaching for a cup.
Ethan's laugh warmed her more than the steam rising from the espresso machine.
"Actually I would like a hot Latte please"
"Sure."
Stacy went to Josh to ask for a break as there were fewer customers in the rain.
"Josh." Stacy sidled up to her manager, who was scowling at the weather report. "Slow day. Can I take a break?"
Josh's gaze flicked to Ethan, now dripping onto Seat 12's cushion. "That guy's gonna short-circuit our outlets if he sits there much longer."
"So... yes?"
"Whatever." Josh waved her off. "I'm out of this romantic thing."
Stacy didn't wait for him to change his mind. She poured Ethan's latte, hesitated, then carved a lopsided heart into the foam.
Not terrible for her first try.
"For you," she said, setting it down with a clink. "Try not to—"
"—drown in it?" Ethan finished, grinning. He eyed the foam. "Is that... a spleen?"
"It's a heart," Stacy huffed.
Ethan's smile softened. He lifted the cup in a toast, his fingers brushing hers. "Best one I've ever seen."
And just like that, Stacy forgot how to breathe.
Their laughter still hung in the air when Ethan's phone lit up.
A notification glowed on the screen:
"Hey Ethan, I miss you. —Luna"
Luna.
The name hit Stacy like a sip of scalding coffee. Her smile froze.
Ethan snatched the phone so fast he knocked over his latte. Foam bled across the table like awarning.
"Um—shit. My sister just texted." He stood abruptly, chair screeching. "Family emergency. Gotta go."
Sister? The lie tasted bitter. Stacy knew siblings didn't text "I miss you" with heart emojis.
"Are you okay?" she asked, but he was already backing away.
"Y-yeah! Super. See you later." He bolted without his jacket, without a goodbye—just the ghost of his cologne and a puddle of ruined foam.
The bell jingled. Rain swallowed him whole.
Then—movement outside the window.
A girl in a blood-red hoodie stood under the awning, her face half-hidden. Watching. Waiting.
Luna?
Their eyes met through the glass. The girl's lips curled—not a smile, but a challenge—before she vanished into the storm.
Stacy's fingers trembled around the damp towel Ethan had left behind.
Who lies about a text?
Who runs like that?
And most importantly:
Who was already standing in the rain… waiting for him?
💖 Full story out now on Amazon Kindle —Read it here just for 1 dollar 👉 https://mybook.to/ObDBWL