Chapter 6
T he early afternoon sun filtered through the café's patio umbrellas, casting polka-dot shadows across the outdoor seating area of Brew & Bean. Locals sipped lattes, a light breeze played with napkins, and fate leaned back, clearly enjoying herself.
Alex sat stiffly at a table near the railing, clutching her to-go cup like it might rescue her from the most awkward coffee date of her life.
Across the patio—just three tables and a blissfully oblivious couple away—Will tried not to wince as Magnolia launched into a passionate monologue involving a goat rescue, three real estate deals, and something about retrofitting a barn into a yoga studio.
He nodded politely, chewing the inside of his cheek.
Alex, meanwhile, glanced at Jeremy—who was still dodging her gaze like eye contact might be contagious. The silence between them stretched thin, like an elevator ride with a stranger you regret greeting.
Magnolia’s phone rang. Loudly. Without skipping a beat, she answered with a breezy, “Hey, babe!” and wandered off mid-conversation, waving her hands like she was directing traffic no one else could see.
Will blinked after her, genuinely unsure if he’d just been ghosted in real time or if this was just… part of her process.
A scruffy golden doodle trotted past, dragging its leash and a cheerful townsperson behind it.
The dog made a beeline for Alex. She lit up, crouching to scratch behind its ears as the dog leaned into her like they were lifelong pals.
Jeremy, watching this canine interaction like it was some kind of disease vector, flinched and took his coffee cup inside without a word.
Alex lifted hers toward him with a hopeful smile—but he was already gone.
No refill for her, it seemed. How gentlemanly of him, she thought with an awkward eye roll.
The couple sitting between Will and Alex got up to leave, chatting about their dinner plans and unknowingly removing the last human obstacle between the two tables. There was now a clear, unobstructed view—Will’s line of sight locked on Alex just as she turned her head.
His hand lifted instinctively for a wave.
But then, boom—Jeremy reappeared from the café, and Will’s hand faltered midair like he was swatting a fly. He lowered it fast and went back to sipping his lukewarm coffee, as Magnolia slid into her seat, still talking, still gesturing.
Alex and Jeremy stood, both clearly relieved that the coffee date had reached its blessed end. Jeremy moved first, awkwardly brushing crumbs from his pants that weren’t actually there. Alex followed suit, grabbing her cup with a forced smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
They made their way to the trash can in silence, the kind that clung a little too long and said everything they hadn’t managed to in words.
Alex tossed her empty cup in and stepped aside just as Jeremy did the same—though he missed the opening slightly, and his lid clattered to the pavement in a brief, echoing reminder of how well this entire date had gone.
She muttered a polite, “Thanks for the coffee,” to fill the silence.
“Yeah,” Jeremy replied, scratching the back of his neck like he was unsure if he should go in for a hug, handshake, or full-on sprint to his car.
They both chose the easiest option—just walking. Side by side but with a respectable–– and clearly intentional–– distance between them, they headed for the exit without looking back.
Somewhere behind them, fate let out a chuckle and crossed its fingers for next time.
They passed by Will’s table without so much as a glance in his direction—two ships awkwardly drifting out of a painfully silent harbor.
Will, sensing movement, turned slightly and caught a glimpse of them in the reflection of the coffee shop window. His gaze lingered just long enough to see her disappear in the distance–– the coast was clear.
A ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he looked back down at his coffee. It was good to see her again, even if it was with another man. He returned his attention to Magnolia, but his mind was on… her.
Fate, somewhere in the background, grinned and poured herself another espresso.