Chapter 7
Austin
How is it possible that I can’t stop thinking about my beautiful attacker?
Since the moment I exited Josy’s Coffee Shop, I have been repeating the encounter in my head. There’s something about her that I can’t shake. And I can’t stop obsessing over it. What is it about this woman that has captured my attention?
Her eyes, the color of honey, pulled me in from the first glance. The way her face was concentrating on making sure to clean the coffee off my chest was beautiful. She wasn’t even smiling, and I was captivated . If I had to make up the perfect woman for me, she would be it. This has never happened to me before. She is undeniably the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen. The instant attraction is not lost on me. She has that shy type of aura around her, like she doesn’t even realize how gorgeous she is and that calls to me.
I've had plenty of one-night stands, casual flings, and relationships that never went beyond surface-level attraction—but this was different. There was something about her, a genuine sincerity in her actions that I found incredibly appealing. I can’t even explain why, but it felt like there was an instant connection, mimicking the love found in fairytales, the love I swore I would never find.
As I drive home, I try to focus on the road, but my mind keeps wandering back to her. I remember the way her hair fell over her shoulder as she apologized, the way her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. She looked like she belonged in some romantic movie, not spilling coffee on strangers in a small-town coffee shop.
By the time I pull into my driveway, I’ve decided that I need to know more about her. Maybe it’s a long shot, but I can’t let this go without at least trying to see her again. I don’t even know her name, but I know I need to find out.
The next morning, I find myself back at Josy’s Sweet Shop—earlier than usual. The bell jingles as I enter, and Josy looks up from behind the counter with a smile, but she is too busy to talk to me.
Today, the coffee shop is more crowded than usual for a morning. There’s even a long line of people waiting to be served. I look around, trying to find my beautiful attacker from yesterday, but I haven’t been able to locate her yet.
Did I just call her mine? I’ve got it bad for this woman.
I hope she’s here today. I need a glimpse of her to see that I’m not crazy, that yesterday happened, and there’s a connection. My mom always told me I’d find my dream girl when I least expected it.
Dream girl? Now I’m really losing it.
I stand at the end of the line and greet Mrs. Mirtha and Mrs. Henrietta. “Good morning, ladies,” I say.
“Good morning, young man. How are you on this fine August morning?” Mrs. Mirtha replies.
“I’m doing great. How about you? I’ve never seen you in the coffee shop this early.”
“Well, there is a new girl who moved here recently, and everyone is talking about her,” Mrs. Henrietta says, her voice almost a whisper. These old ladies are the gossip queens of our town. If you want to know something, you come to them, and you’ll get all the details. I guess my pretty girl has caught their attention.
I act like I don’t know who they’re talking about and say, “Really? What about her?”
Mrs. Mirtha and Mrs. Henrietta exchange a knowing glance, their eyes sparkling with the thrill of sharing the latest gossip.
“Oh, she’s a real sweetheart,” Mrs. Mirtha begins, leaning in conspiratorially. “Moved here just recently, and from what we hear, she’s trying to get settled in. Poor thing had a bit of a rough start yesterday, though.”
“Yes, I heard she spilled coffee on some poor man,” Mrs. Henrietta adds, her voice dropping to a whisper as if she’s sharing a secret.
“Really?” I say, feigning surprise while internally cursing my luck. Of course they would know about the coffee incident. “I hope he wasn’t too upset.”
“Oh, no, he was very understanding, from what we’ve heard,” Mrs. Mirtha assures me with a wink. “But it’s her second day, and everyone’s eager to see how she’s doing. We all want to make sure she feels welcomed.”
I nod, trying to hide my relief and excitement.
So, she is here, and the whole town is buzzing about her. “That’s good to hear. It’s always nice to see new faces around here.”
As the line moves forward, I finally spot my attacker emerging from the back, a determined look on her face as she balances a tray of pastries. She’s dressed in a simple but flattering uniform that accentuates her curves, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She is even more beautiful than yesterday. How is that even possible?
Her uniform clings just enough to highlight her figure, and the loose strands of hair that have escaped her ponytail frame her face perfectly. The morning light streaming through the windows casts a soft glow right where she is standing, making her look almost ethereal. As she moves with grace and purpose, I can’t help but be captivated by her presence. Her eyes, even more mesmerizing today, seem to catch the light just right, giving them an even richer, more inviting hue.
I’m losing my mind. I sound like a poet describing how stunning this woman is.
When our eyes meet, there's a split second of recognition before she quickly looks away, focusing back on what she's doing. Yesterday’s encounter flashes through my mind, and I can't help but smile, thinking how lucky I am to see her again.
As the line inches forward, I catch myself stealing glances at her. The way she effortlessly arranges the pastry display is impressive, but there’s more to it. She’s got this quiet strength and determination that I can’t stop admiring. She’s not just beautiful, she’s stunning.
“Ah, there she is,” Mrs. Mirtha says, nudging me with her elbow. “Isn’t she just lovely?”
“Yeah, she is,” I admit, unable to tear my gaze away from her. When it’s finally my turn at the counter, I step forward, my heart pounding in my chest. Josy greets me with a knowing smile. “Morning, Austin. The usual?”
“Yeah, and an egg, ham, and cheese sandwich, please,” I say, trying to keep my tone casual.
Josy chuckles. “I thought you might say that. Violet! Can you bring out an egg, ham, and cheese sandwich?”
Violet. My Violet.
Violet looks up, her eyes widening slightly as she sees me standing there. She hesitates for a moment before making her way over, wiping her hands on her apron.
“Hi,” she says, her voice a bit shaky. “I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“No need to apologize again,” I reply with a smile. “I just wanted to say hi and see how your second day was going.”
“It’s better,” she admits, a small smile playing on her lips. “I haven’t spilled coffee on anyone yet.”
“Progress,” I tease, and she laughs, the sound like music to my ears.
“Violet, this is Austin. He’s a regular here, and we also went to school together,” Josy says, introducing us formally.
“It’s nice to meet you, Austin,” Violet says, extending her hand.
“Nice to meet you too, Violet,” I say, shaking her hand and feeling that same electric spark from yesterday. Her hand is smooth and I feel tingles at the contact. “I hope the rest of your day goes smoothly.”
“Thanks,” she says, her cheeks turning a delightful shade of pink. She turns and goes back to grab my order. While I wait, I follow her with my gaze, mesmerized by everything she does. Violet is gorgeous and from what I am gathering, this attraction is one sided. But I don’t care, I keep looking at her while she works, paying attention to every little detail. She returns a few minutes later with my coffee and sandwich.
“Here you go. Enjoy.”
“Thanks,” I reply.
“Oh, can you please let me know how much the dry cleaning for your shirt costs?” she asks, her voice laced with genuine concern.
I shake my head. “I told you, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“Are you sure?” she asks, her eyes searching mine for reassurance.
“Yes, but if it will make you feel better, slip me a free chocolate croissant next time,” I say with a smile and a wink before I take my coffee and find a seat. As I sit down, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. I don’t know what’s going to happen with this attraction, but I’m determined to get to know Violet.
Maybe, my mom was right, and I’ve found my dream girl when I least expected it. Or perhaps I’m just smitten for the first time in my life.
Sitting at my usual table, I watch Violet interact with other customers. Her genuine smile and warm demeanor light up the room. She moves with a grace that is both captivating and endearing, and I find myself more and more drawn to her. I feel like a stalker watching her every move.
I take a sip of my coffee, savoring the rich flavor. Josy always makes the best coffee, but today it tastes even better.
I catch Violet glancing my way a few times. Each time our eyes meet, it sends a jolt through my chest a silent connection, like we’re both aware of something unspoken but powerful between us. I think my previous thought about this attraction being one sided was wrong, or at least I hope so. I finish my coffee and sandwich, reluctant to leave, but knowing I have to get to work.
Before I go, I stop by the counter. “Thanks again for the coffee, Josy. And Violet, it was great meeting you. See you around?”
Violet smiles, her eyes sparkling. “Yeah, see you around, Austin.”
I leave the coffee shop with a spring in my step, a sense of hope, and the anticipation of getting to see Violet again.