The rain drizzled lightly as Leon left the Starbucks, his hands shoved into the pockets of his designer jacket.
"How could I forget to ask for her number?" he muttered, slamming the car door shut. He dropped his head against the steering wheel and groaned. "Who says, 'I'll see you around'? What does that even mean?"
The regret gnawed at him for days. In an attempt to distract himself, he started going on dates around Ann Arbor. The first was a woman who barely looked up from her phone. The second seemed promising, but the conversation devolved into her reminiscing about luxurious vacations that hit a little too close to home.
By Wednesday night, he'd had enough. He called Kayla, sitting on the edge of his unmade bed.
"You sound miserable", Kayla complimented.
"Because I am. This whole thing is stupid".
"Okay, big thinker. What's your plan now? Sulk? Or go back to that Starbucks and talk to her like a normal human being?"
"I can't just... show up again," he said, though the idea had already crossed his mind.
"Why not? She works there, right? Just try it. If nothing else, it's better than whatever those trainwreck dates were."
Leon sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine. But if I humiliate myself, it's your fault."
"Deal. Also, I'm free to hangout at your new place down in Ann Arbor tomorrow. Your place probably needs some TLC, and clearly, so do you."
--
Thursday evening, Leon and Kayla sat on his balcony, wrapped in blankets as rain pattered against the railing. Gazing as the city lights twinkled faintly through the drizzle.
"I'm scared."
Kayla gave him a sideways glance. "Of what?"
"Going back to see her. What if it's weird? What if she's not interested?"
"You're making it weird. Just go in and talk to her. Stop overthinking."
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who left their first meet saying 'I'll see you around bro'."
Kayla leaned forward, her voice softer. "Look, you've spent your whole life trying to plan every little detail. How about you start living wherever the moment takes you."
"That's what you just leaned forward from your cushion to say?"
"I know it's cheesy, but it's true," she shot back. "You could realise you really like someone and boom. They're all of a sudden taken and you missed your opportunity because you waited too long overthinking a simple situation. Come on, 'Damien'. What's the worst that could happen?"
Finally, he nodded. "Okay, fine. I'll go on Tuesday. But if this flops, I'm blaming you."
"I'll sit here with you right here on this balcony again on Tuesday to hear you rant about what happened. So you get a free therapy session if things do turn south."
"Fine, but don't forget. Tuesday night. I'm going to hold you to that offer mister."
--
Wednesday morning came quicker than Ava expected. She stirred awake on Leon's couch, the soft smell of fresh laundry filling the room. He must've moved her inside from the balcony as soon she had fallen asleep.
Her uniform was folded neatly on the armrest.
She stretched.
Leon walked in from the kitchen with a mug in hand. "Morning stranger. Coffee's hot if you need some fuel for the reunion."
She smirked, grabbing her uniform. "Thanks. But honestly, I'm not sure I'm even going."
"Why not?" he asked, leaning against the doorway.
"It just feels... pointless," she replied, disappearing into the bathroom to change.
When she came out, she found Leon holding his car keys. "Come on," he said. "I'll drop you off. You might change your mind once you're there."
The drive was quiet, the rain tapping against the windows as Leon pulled up to the park. Ava hesitated, but he smiled.
"Have fun," he said, his voice light.
She stepped out and gave a small wave, the sound of the car fading as he drove off.
On the drive back to the apartment, Leon's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and answered. "Mom? What's up?"
The sound of her crying sent a chill through him. "Leon, it's your father... he died yesterday."
Leon felt a sudden sinking feeling throughout his body. His mind deep in shock. His eyes drowning in blur.
He swerved back into his lane, narrowly avoiding a collision with a truck.
"What?" His voice cracked. "What happened?"
Leon pulled over, his hands gripping the steering wheel. Despite everything—the years of resentment, the constant pressure—he felt tears sliding down his face.
After hanging up, he sat in silence, the rain pounding against the roof. He ignored Kayla's calls that evening, letting them go to voicemail.
He laid face-up on his sofa.
He stared at the ceiling fan, replaying the last conversation he had with his father before he left. That was the last time he would ever see him again.
--
By the next Monday, Leon still hadn't answered Kayla. The weight of his father's death pressed on him, and the walls of his apartment felt suffocating.
Needing fresh air, he decided to take a walk. The Starbucks sign glowed faintly through the drizzle, and he pushed the door open, letting the smell of coffee wrap around him.
--
That night, Leon laid in bed staring at the ceiling in thought.
He debated whether to call Ava and explain what had happened, and why he came to Ann Arbor. He yearned the comforting warmth of another person to break his continuous marathon of thoughts about his father.
His finger lingered over the call button for a moment before pressing. "Hey. Listen I'm sorry ignored you. And I know it's late. But are you free to come over right now?"
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YOU ARE READING
Frappuccino
RomanceAva's Tuesday night shifts at Starbucks are usually quiet-until he walks in. There's something about the new guy that draws her in, and week after week, she finds herself waiting for him to show up and order his usual Frappuccino. But as they connec...