grandeur [hs au]

chapter 3

It's not too late to change my mind.

Standing outside Cafe Positano, my feet can't seem to move one way or another. I'm still as a statue peering into the cafe, moderately busy on a weekend afternoon.

It could be a stupid idea, showing up to this cafe like a lost puppy dog. Harry's a stranger, ultimately, and an odd one at that. I couldn't categorize our run in at the club as normal, especially with how easily he managed to slip something into my pocket without me realizing. He could have been a pickpocket for all I know, gone before I realize anything's lost.

And what bothers me most is him having a clear advantage; he's holding all the cards here. I don't like the feeling of someone else having the upper hand. I prefer to feel in control.

Still, I want to know what it is he wants. Something tells me I won't stop seeing him around until I hear him out. My curiosity won't let me rest until I know. Truthfully, I barely even slept last night, wracking my brain to come up with any explanation that made sense with the very little information I had to go off of.

He failed to put a date on the paper invitation, so I had to assume it was today, the day after our initial meeting. He's lucky I didn't have any appointments I had to be present for at the gallery. Otherwise, he'd be waiting around for no one to appear.

Unless I read something incorrectly, and I'm the one here at the wrong time. My stomach drops at the thought. I glance back down at my phone reassuring me it's 1:59pm.

Maybe this was a mistake.

"Good afternoon, Caroline," a deep voice greets from behind me.

I whip around in surprise and am met by a much more casual-looking Harry. He's sporting a relaxed white button up with black outlines of lilies etched into the fabric. The first few buttons are undone, similar to last night. In the sunlight, I can confirm the shapes I believed were marked on his torso - a butterfly and two birds. Sparrows, I think. To keep warm in the barely-spring weather, he's got on a slouchy brown knit cardigan with the sleeves cuffed. He's still wearing that same confident smile.

"Hello, Harry," I return formally. "It's nice to see you again." I gesture lightly towards Cafe Positano. "Shall we head in?" If I take the lead in this, maybe that can give me back some control in this dance between us.

He nods silently and we duck in, instantly embraced by the aromas of roasting coffee beans and warmed pastries. While I've been around the North End a bit in the past, I've never stopped by this place. Most of the perimeter is made up of floor to ceiling windows, separated by small portions of drywall painted in various pastel colors. The largest solid wall, painted a bright white, sits covered by a sizable chalkboard menu behind the ordering counter. I scan over the menu quickly and peer into the large case of pastries.

"Anything you recommend here?" I ask over my shoulder to Harry without taking my eyes off the glass case. I feel his presence get closer from behind, close enough that the hot breath of his words blows against my hair.

"If you're a sweet girl, their vanilla latte with a shot of caramel creamer," he offers. "If you're not so sweet, any of their teas are good." The confusing shiver that runs down my spine urges me to step up to the counter to place my order without wasting any more time.

"I'll just have a mint green tea hot, please," I say quickly. "And whatever he would like."

I step aside so Harry can place his order, surprise evident in his lifted eyebrows and widened eyes.

"You don't have to do that, I'm happy to cover us both since I invited you." He starts to reach for his wallet, but I hold my hand up to stop him. I swiftly pull out my card and slide it towards the cashier.