The Sanders Sides

11 - Coffee

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon rolls hit Roman like a warm hug as he pushed open the door of the cozy little cafe. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a golden glow on the mismatched furniture and book-lined shelves. Laughter and conversation filled the air, a soundtrack to the afternoon bustle.

Roman, clad in his usual white prince ensemble – this time featuring a red sash that seemed to catch the light like a flame – scanned the room for Logan. He stood out like a peacock in a penguin colony, his red clothes a stark contrast to the navy blue shirt and rimless rectangle glasses that gave him a studious air. Yet, there was a certain charm to his nerdiness, an understated coolness that Roman found unexpectedly attractive.

A group of girls huddled at a corner table erupted in excited whispers as he entered. Roman, used to the attention, simply offered them a polite smile and continued his search. He spotted Logan in a quiet booth at the back, his brow furrowed in concentration as he scribbled something in a notebook.

"Hey," Roman greeted, his voice a warm rumble as he slid into the booth opposite Logan. "Sorry I'm a little late. The line at the bakery was insane."

Logan looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before it settled into a familiar stoic expression. "No worries," he said, closing his notebook with a snap. "Just finishing up some... research. I also paid the bills for this month. My Job as a paid tutor is doing well."

Roman raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his brown eyes. "That's Great! Research, huh? Researching the best place to get a slice of that double chocolate fudge cake I saw on my way in?"

Logan chuckled, the sound low and surprisingly endearing. "Maybe," he admitted. "But duty calls. Coffee first, then cake can be contemplated."

A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment, broken only by the soft murmur of conversation and the clinking of cups. Roman shifted in his seat, the earlier conversation about Patton still weighing heavily on his mind. He wanted to tell Logan more, to explore the confusing tangle of emotions churning inside him.

"So.. I got a job as a tutor for the college," Logan smiled sitting down with a cup of crofters. "I had a last minute interview with a teacher when she saw me studying, and recruited me."

"Thats great Logan!" Roman smiled

"Yeah." Logan sighed, Putting a spoon of crofters in his mouth.

"Man you really like that crofters huh? Well,  I got recruited for Broadway downtown by an agent.  She emailed me yesterday and I called her." Roman smiled

"Wait thats amazing Roman!" Logan smiled

"I KNOW" Roman beamed enthusiastically.

An uncomfortable silence bombarded them and Roman was the first to break it.

"So," he started, his voice hesitant, "about what we were talking about earlier..."

Logan leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. "Yes?"

Roman took a deep breath. "Look, I... I appreciate what you said about honesty. About Patton and... everything." He hesitated, then blurted out, "The truth is, I care about Patton a lot. But..."

He trailed off, unsure how to articulate the jumble of feelings. "But?" Logan prompted gently.

Roman met his gaze, a vulnerability he hadn't expected flooding his chest. "But...  I think... I might be protective of him. And not in a romantic way But then there's Timothy..."

The words tumbled out in a rush, a dam of unspoken emotions finally breaking. He felt a weight lifting off his chest, a sense of relief at finally being honest with someone, especially someone who seemed to understand.