Chapter Seven
Milo
“It’s a half-hour walk. I checked.” Rowan matched his long stride to my smaller steps without me having to ask him. His feet were nearly silent on the pavement next to my sneakers.
“Do you mind? It’ll be a nice stroll.” I waved my hand to encapsulate the weather and vibe.
The sky bled red and orange, bathing the buildings and closed shops in warm light. A delicate breeze licked the exposed skin of my midriff and arms, balancing the passing heat of the day with the incoming chill of the evening.
“No. I’m just not used to walking places. I usually have to drive to work, to the store, to visit anyone I know.”
“Perks of living in the center of a small town—everywhere is close. You can get a new kettle around the corner; next door you’ll buy socks, and once you’re done, a fresh coffee will make your day.” I said in the tone of a cereal commercial.
Rowan chuckled. “You like living here, huh?”
“Yeah. It’s my home. So many places bring lovely memories.” And some tougher to process, like the last time I’d visited with my parents before moving here permanently. “I love the community, but getting around easily is a great perk too.”
“Is that why you ride a bike?”
I stiffened involuntarily. He didn’t need to know everything. “Yeah. I don’t need a car, and it’s good exercise.”
“It’s definitely working for you.” He bumped my shoulder gently, but I went reeling to the side anyway. “Fuck, sorry.” He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me upright again.
“You’re as strong as you look.” The skin on my forearm was still warm from his touch, and I craved more of it. I grazed his hand with the back of mine to see his reaction.
The corner of his lip twitched, and he threaded our fingers together. Warmth spread through our connection and up my arm, causing the tiny hairs there to rise. Was it too fast? Who cared? This didn’t have to be a one-night thing. A summer fling could be fun.
“That’s not always a good thing,” Rowan said.
I frowned. “Why not?”
“Expectations. Preconceived ideas about me.” He raised his left shoulder and let it drop.
“Like expecting you to lift heavy things for other people?” I nodded at a frequent customer, Mr. Franklin, who was passing us by with his miniature pinscher.
The dog pulled on his leash to come closer to us, but the owner lifted him up and crossed the street instead.
Pity. I’d love to pet Miss Pixie. She liked ear scratches.
Rowan sighed. “I don’t mind that. But I hate when human or even cryptid kids are afraid of me when they see me, or when random people anticipate violence from me, when partners expect aggression.”
“Fuck. I never thought of that.” I squeezed his hand, thinking of the weird reaction we’d witnessed from a guy who’d bought coffee from me for the last five years. “That sucks.”
“I always wanted a dog but my life is so busy I don’t think I could take care of one. Animals are the best judges of character. And you, I guess. You didn’t assume anything about me.”
“That’s not true. Your designer pants and shirt put me off initially.” I glanced at his pants and, oop, there it was, a monster imprint. I had noticed that before as well, but I’d ignored it.
“Okay. That’s a first. Why?”
I grimaced. “My ex, Andrew, wore fancy clothes to work. He saw it as a show of money and status. But he was just a cheating-ass phony.”
“Most of my wardrobe is bespoke, that’s true.
BlackHorns have my measurements on the system ‘cause they can get me suits that fit me. For regular clothes, I use brands that cater to tall people in general. Lots of basketball and workout styles there, which is great.” He pursed his lips.
“But I’m also vain enough to appreciate the nice threads. ”
“When you’re with me, you can skip them, like you skip shoes. I won’t mind.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah. Unless we’re in public, of course.”
Rowan’s low chuckle was a mocha with lots of chocolate—heavy and with the perfect balance of sweetness.
“I won’t visit your cafe naked, don’t worry.”
I snorted a laugh. “Thanks. But now I have the image of you sitting bare-assed in an armchair and sipping coffee I made for you.”
He smirked. “That can be arranged.”
“You’re easy.”
“It’s what this is supposed to be, right?” He swung our linked hands.
“Yeah. No expectations. Only fun.” The lightness in my chest whenever I was near Rowan spoke to how well our arrangement worked.
If I wanted a relationship, I wouldn’t have let myself experiment with a sexy redhead in a suit.
All I had to do was not expect more than what we’d promised each other, which shouldn’t be a problem after the shitshow I experienced with Andrew.
Rowan was the perfect rebound for the summer.
“Yeah, I’m happy with fun. But only when you’re not busy running around for work or school. They’re putting a lot on you at the coffee shop. Why is it open so late? Most places like this close at four, not six.”
“Many businesses in the area finish at five, and by staying open later, we allow those people to get tea or hot chocolate, and yes, some still get coffee after work. The cafe also has a small batch of sweet and hearty pastries delivered midday, and Lorenzo makes sure the soup of the day lasts until then, which can make a great supper or small dinner. We don’t have another rush hour in the afternoon, but the locals have grown to rely on the cafe, so it’s worth staying open later.
That’s not to mention the Bingo Thursdays and Karaoke Fridays.
Those evenings really bring the community together.
We have a bus coming from Happy Life Senior Home on the last Thursday and the first Friday of the month.
The eldest members in the area get to hang out with those who live in town.
Entry is free for everyone, of course. I love running them. ”
“That’s very thoughtful, but is it sustainable for the business? Is it for you?”
The worry in his voice irked me. I did my best to run the place, that meant a lot to me. Rowan seeing flaws in the system so quickly was not helping my crumbling belief that I could keep the cafe as a community hub while also making money.
I huffed and shoved my free hand into my pocket, but didn’t let go of the one holding Rowan’s. “I don’t know; I’m still figuring stuff out.”
“That’s valid. If you ever want to bounce ideas off someone, I’m here. And I was serious about looking through your math assignments with you.”
Rowan couldn’t even let me be mad at him for a moment. Damn him.
“The place used to be a diner, then it was turned into a cafe in 2001. The times changed, and coffee culture became stronger. It’s still a social spot I remember from back when, but updated and easier to maintain by fewer members of staff.
So it’s usually me, Sophia, and Lorenzo on a rotating schedule with two of my friends from college helping one day a week.
Lorenzo is the cook, but after preparing the sandwiches and soup, he helps in front of the house too.
I know people call it a coffee shop, but we offer food and lots of space to hang out, so we’re more of a cafe. ”
My fast word-vomit monologue style was probably annoying Rowan, but he didn’t show it.
“Now I know the difference, thanks.” Rowan nodded as if storing the information and locking it. “This place means a lot to you. No wonder you like working there.”
“Yeah. I love it, even if some days are really draining me.” Was he interested in my life story? Doubtful. I’d bore him to death. “I know you work for an accounting and loans company and you love math. What else?”
“That’s it. The job at AlphaWave Finance is not very exciting, even with all the numbers to deal with.”
I made gagging sounds. “Sounds boring.”
Rowan chuckled. “They pay well, and I’m good at what I do. But it’s not very rewarding. Not like your job.”
I opened my mouth, ready for the usual argument about my work. “So you don’t think my job is shit?”
“No. If you like being a barista, then do that. Why?”
I looked at my feet, kicking the tiny rocks on the gravel at the entrance to the park.
“When I met my ex, he told me I wasn’t ambitious, and I’d never be a big-shot if I was stuck in a small town doing a job meant for teenagers.”
“It’s an honest job. And I’m glad he’s your ex. Not only for selfish reasons.” He squeezed my hand.
The park spread before us, lit by tall iron lanterns that were straight out of black-and-white Hollywood movies.
It looked vast in the space illuminated by lamps, now that the bustle of the surrounding town had quieted and the shops had closed, leaving only the hum of the trees and the buzz of cicadas filling the air.
I took a lungful of breath. It wasn’t the crisp, clean air of a forest, but far from the smog of a busy city.
“This park is even more beautiful at night,” Rowan said, looking around at the neat pathways and wooden benches amongst the greenery. “Or maybe I haven’t taken enough time to enjoy it yet.”
“Do you touch grass often when you’re in Chicago?”
“The city has parks, but apart from my sisters dragging me to the odd open-air concert, I’m mostly focused on work.” His voice was tinged with something. Not regret. Maybe longing?
“So your family lives in Chicago too?”
“Some of them, yeah. But my siblings are scattered all over, so when they visit, I make sure I have time for them.”
“Do you have a big family?” My curiosity hadn’t put him off yet, so I wasn’t backing away.
Rowan smiled fondly. “Quite. My parents had four siblings each, so I have more cousins than I could recite the names of in under a minute. Big events are usually fun chaos.”
“Sounds amazing.” I recalled a birthday party at a friend’s house when I was about ten, and so many members of his family were there, I remember thinking he must have felt so loved. “Tell me all about them.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, unless you don’t want to.”
“Oh, I do. Just… no one ever really cared before.” He looked away, then shook his head. “If you saw us all together, you’d never assume that I’m the youngest of all my siblings.”