#nutmegsims

Cerulean opened his eyes as he felt the bed shift. He watched the girl stand up and slide out of the bed, ever so carefully. Maybe it was because she was a dainty person (which Candace was not), or maybe it was because she cared enough about him that she didn’t want to wake him up. But, it was too late for that. He always awoke when he felt the bed shift, no matter how delicate Candace tried to be. She would never admit it to him that she cared, and he’d never confront her about it. When she would turn around to make sure that she hadn’t woken him, he’d shut his eyes and pretend as if he was asleep the entire time. Candace was difficult, but she was lovely. The pink haired goddess was unlike anything he had ever come in contact with before. Her fiery temper and vicious attitude rivaled that of Hera, wife of Zeus, king of the gods. Sometimes he would lay awake at night, when she had fallen fast asleep and wonder how he had gotten so lucky. How he was chosen over Ellis? Or Dom? Even Locke. He was subpar, always had been. Even in the modeling industry, he never felt superior to anyone….never felt what it was like to be at the top. Until he heard her say those words to him. “I love you.”  Him. She loved him. The guy who couldn’t even get his life together. Falling for Candace was too easy, and he thought it would be the biggest mistake of his life because she would choose someone else and he’d be back at home with his shitty modeling gigs and his monotonous life of fixing the same tire for the same man every week.

 He heard the door slam, and a small “sorry.” She was never good at apologizing, but she had tried for him….sometimes. She must have known that he was awake, assuming he couldn’t sleep through the loud noise. It wasn’t the curt bang of the bathroom door that was preventing him from falling asleep. It was being in this empty bed by himself. He couldn’t rest easy unless he knew that she was in his arms. Finally, after a few moments the door opened once more and she exited the bathroom. She walked, with her head down, avoiding his gaze. It embarrassed her the way he gazed at her so lovingly. It felt out of place, but made her warm all the same. She climbed into bed next to Cerulean once more. She had her back to him, as if she hadn’t witnessed the small smile that grazed his lips. He leaned forward and kissed her shoulder blade. It was a light kiss and lasted only for a second, but Candace still shivered under his touch. “You’re beautiful,” He murmured.

It had all started when Candace wanted to talk about her new boyfriend, which they somehow couldn’t just do over the phone (he had to remember to thank her for that, actually, when he wasn’t busy with all the oogling). She’d wanted coffee, and, being the good friend he was, he didn’t turn her down. It would be no big deal to go sit in a shop and drink tea or hot chocolate or something while she rambled on about... Whatever his name was. Cyan? Chartreuse? Some weird name like that.

And so there they were. In line. Next up at the counter and there he was with that smile. He took Candace’s order and she paid, but those dark eyes paid attention to him and him alone. 

“Let me guess” a charming smirk, a raised eyebrow. “Cappuccino, double shot, extra foam,”

“You got it,” Dom answered automatically. Stupid attempt to be charming. Stupid. “My usual, how did you even guess?”

“Guy like you? There was no question about it. Whole thing suits you, you know? Strong, rich, warm,” God, Dom could lose himself in that grin of his. Maybe he would get a chance.

Candace, later. That knowing smile of hers when she was done recounting every detail of the date she had had with that guy Carmine. Or was it Charcoal? She knew, as Dom dropped his still-full coffee cup in the trash, that he was done for. Kaput. He’d be back to see this barista.

Over the coming weeks, he learned about him slowly. Ellis was his name. His hair was always styled up and laced with a rich deep blue that suited him nicely. Subtle, but charming. Dom’s order was ready by the time he got to the counter.

Ellis would catch Dominic’s stare from time to time as he worked, flowing effortlessly among his coworkers and the cafe patrons. He would always smile a smile that crinkled the bridge of his nose and creased the corners of his eyes. A smile that made Dom light up from the inside and sent a chill down his spine. The name on his cup went from Dominic to Dom.

He knew Ellis’s sechedule by heart, but would mix it up to make it seem like he wasn’t stalking the poor guy. Sometimes he would come at the beginning of a shift, sometimes the tail end. Today Ellis hadn’t seen him. He’d already clocked and gone to the back to gather his things by the time Dom walked into the line to get a drink he would throw out. It’s what he got for trying to play these things cool.

“It’s already made and paid for,” the unknown barista told him when he went to order. “Ellis saw you coming and took care of it for you. Over on the counter, the one with the note,” a smirk, not unlike one Candace gave him on the day she told him about Chestnut or Coral or whatever. Was he that obvious? 

Better question: what did the note say?

The note was everything. He didn’t even bother to take the drink. He’d never left the cafe so quickly.

And there he was. Sitting at a booth and staring at a glass of water as droplets dripped down the sides. A nice sweater, neat jeans, and a small nervous smile as he fidgeted on the table.

“Is this seat taken?” Dom asked Ellis as he walked up. And there was that smile again. That perfect smile.

“It is now,” Ellis replied.

Dom-

Dates aren’t half as fun when we don’t even get to talk to each other but for a moment because I am working. If I haven’t read this wrong, meet me at the old diner after you get this, and maybe we can have one for real.

Of course, if I am wrong, ignore this and I will pretend this never happened. But I really hope I am right. 

I mean, why else does anyone come to a cafe and flirt with the barista and not drink any coffee?