Dreamcatcher

Chapter 1 - Monday

"Ashlyn, there's a seriously cute guy sitting in your section—table five," Paige says, practically buzzing with excitement as she rushes up to me in the kitchen. Without warning, she reaches for the top button of my waitress uniform, starting to unbutton it.

I swat her hands away, my voice firm. "Paige, we've been over this a million times. I have a boyfriend. And I love him."

She smirks, undeterred, and moves to fluff up my long chestnut brown hair instead. "Oh, come on. What Daniel doesn't know won't hurt him. It's perfectly fine to fantasize about other guys."

I roll my eyes, grabbing my pen and order pad, trying to ignore her antics. "Not happening," I say, heading out of the kitchen toward table five.

Sitting there is, admittedly, a handsome guy. Tall, with tousled brown hair and striking green eyes that seem to catch the light in a way that draws you in. He's wearing a grey T-shirt layered under a blue flannel, casually flipping through the menu. Despite the easygoing appearance, something about him seems... guarded. Like there's a lot more beneath the surface.

I put on my best smile as I approach. "What can I get you today?"

The man looks up from the menu, and for a moment, time seems to slow. His green eyes meet mine, and I'm hit with a strange sense of familiarity, though I can't place why. There's an intensity there, a quiet storm just beneath the calm exterior, and it throws me off balance.

He smiles, just enough to make anyone's heart skip a beat. "I'll have a coffee, black," he says, his voice deep and smooth, each word deliberate. There's something about the way he speaks—confident but with a hint of something guarded, something that makes me uneasy.

I jot down his order, trying to shake off the odd feeling creeping up my spine. "Anything else?"

For a moment, he hesitates, his gaze sweeping the room like he's searching for something—or someone. His eyes scan the space with a careful intensity before they finally settle back on mine, locking in with an unsettling focus. A shiver runs down my spine, though I can't quite place why.

"Just the coffee," he says, pausing before adding with a faint, almost playful smile, "and maybe a slice of pie. Thanks."

There's something in the way he says it—too casual, like he's testing the waters, waiting to see how I'll respond. I nod, scribbling down the addition, but I can't shake the feeling that this whole interaction is off.

As I turn to leave, I can feel his gaze still on me, but it's different from what I'm used to. Not the casual glances I get from other customers. No, there's something deeper, more unsettling in the way he watches me—like he's sizing me up, calculating.

I glance back over my shoulder, and sure enough, he's still watching. His expression is unreadable, but the air between us feels charged, heavy with something I can't quite name. Something dangerous.

I head back to the kitchen, leaning against one of the counters to catch my breath. I didn't even realize I'd been holding it. My chest feels tight, but I push the strange tension aside. Before I can gather myself fully, Paige comes bounding up, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Well?" she asks, practically bouncing on her feet.

I quickly wipe the stress from my face and roll my eyes at her. "Well, nothing," I reply, trying to sound casual.

"You don't think he's cute?" she presses, not letting it go.

I sigh, knowing there's no way to escape this conversation. "Of course he's cute. I'm not blind. But like I've said a million times, nothing's going to come of it. I'm happy with Daniel."