Princess and the Jester JESS MARIANO

Brewing connections

The door to Luke's Diner jingled as (Y/N) pushed it open, the familiar clatter of dishes and hum of conversation greeting her. It was her favorite place to grab a coffee and catch up on her reading. She made her way to her usual table, tucking herself into the corner with her book, hoping for a quiet morning.

A few minutes later, the sound of footsteps approached her table. She glanced up, expecting to see Luke, but instead found herself staring into the familiar dark eyes of Jess Mariano. He was wearing an apron and holding a notepad, his expression unreadable.

"What can I get for you, Princess?" he asked, his voice low and mocking.

(Y/N) raised an eyebrow, her heart beating a little faster. "Iced coffee, . And it's (Y/N), remember?"

Jess smirked. "Right, how could I forget?"

As he scribbled down her order, (Y/N) couldn't help but notice the way his eyes lingered on her, the tension between them palpable. She tried to focus on her book, but her mind kept drifting back to their conversation in the bookshop. There was something about Jess that intrigued her, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

A few minutes later, Jess returned with her coffee, setting it down in front of her with a flourish. "Your royal highness's coffee," he said with a mock bow.

(Y/N) rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're really milking this, aren't you?"

Jess shrugged, leaning against the table. "Just trying to make your visit memorable."

"Well, mission accomplished," she muttered, taking a sip of her coffee. It was surprisingly good, and she had to resist the urge to compliment him. Instead, she glanced up at him, trying to read his expression. "So, what's a Jester like you doing working at a place like this?"

He chuckled, the sound warm and unexpected. "Just helping out my uncle. It's not exactly my dream job, but it pays the bills."

(Y/N) nodded, feeling a flicker of sympathy. "And what is your dream job?"

Jess's eyes darkened for a moment before he shrugged again. "Haven't figured that out yet. Maybe I'll be a writer. Or a rock star. Who knows?"

She smiled, her curiosity growing. "You write?"

"Sometimes," he admitted, his tone more serious. "Mostly just stuff for myself. Nothing worth sharing."

(Y/N) leaned forward, her interest piqued. "I'd like to read something you've written."

Jess looked at her, his expression a mix of surprise and skepticism. "Really? Why?"

"Because I think there's more to you than meets the eye," she said honestly. "And I'd like to know what that is."

For a moment, Jess seemed taken aback, his guarded facade slipping. But then he smirked, his usual bravado returning. "Careful, Princess. You might not like what you find."

(Y/N) held his gaze, unflinching. "Maybe. But I'm willing to take that risk."

Jess stared at her for a long moment, the tension between them crackling like electricity. Then, he straightened up, his smirk softening into something almost genuine. "Well, you know where to find me if you ever want to take a peek."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving (Y/N) with her coffee and a racing heart. She watched him go, her mind buzzing with questions. There was so much more to Jess Mariano than the town gossip let on, and she was determined to uncover the real story.

As she sipped her coffee, a smile played on her lips. This was only the beginning.