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I can't seem to stop watching the author by the window. It's rude and creepy, I know, but he is facing slightly away from me and doesn't seem to notice me staring at him from like five metres away.

I keep myself busy by cleaning the counter and tidying up the pastry displays, but my eyes keep travelling back to him.

So many thoughts swirl in my mind. I can relate to him more than the average person, I imagine. I'm alone, too.

All you need to do is paint my house black and our stories are relative similar.

My heart aches for another person who has gone through a heartache like I have. Someone who has had to lose and bury loved ones.

But other than our slightly morbid connection, something about him intrigues me. The way he is hunched over his laptop, typing furiously, shows his dedication to his hobby.

He pauses only to look out of the window, deep in thought, or to drink his coffee. Pippa served him whilst I was busy with two teenagers.

She tells me that he comes in at half nine every single morning. He orders a variety of coffees, switching it up each day, but nearly always has a butter croissant with his drink.

The flaky crumbs on the plate are all that is left of his breakfast. If he is alone in that house, I don't blame him for wanting to be somewhere public, surrounding by chit-chat and noise.

I'm tempted to go and ask him if he wants anything else. I want to see him up close. I can't see what colour his eyes are from here, they're too hidden behind his black, thick-rimmed glasses.

His beanie is covering his hair and most of his forehead. It comes right down to his eyebrows. The hoodie he is wearing doesn't give much away about his body shape, but I can tell that he's quite big. His shoulders are wide and his chest broad.

Even his fingers are long but thick. His hands are large on the keyboard of the laptop, dwarfing it and making it look too small for his dexterous touch.

'Girl, are you crushing on the author?' Pippa asks suddenly, making me jump.

I knock into the cash register. It makes a loud ding and the tray pops open, hitting me in the arm. I shoot Pippa a dirty look, close the register and rub my sore elbow.

'No,' I hiss at her. People are looking at us now, including the author. 'You can barely see him under all those clothes, anyway.'

'You would know,' she comments amusedly. 'You were certainly getting a good enough look.'

'Shut up.'

'No, you shut up. Go ask him if he wants anything.'

My cheeks heat up just thinking about it. No, this isn't a good idea.

The door bell chimes and Pippa smirks at me.

'Saved by the bell,' she says sassily. Her smirk begins a grin when she looks over my shoulder at the customer. 'Lover boy is here for you.'

I spin around and spot Caven sheepishly approaching the counter.

'Hi,' I blurt, completely startled to see him in here.

'Hey,' he replies awkwardly.

He puts his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and rocks back onto the heels of his feet.

'How are you?'

I wipe my hands on my apron and lean against the counter in a way I hope looks more casual than it feels.

'I'm good, thanks. You?'

He nods. 'Good, thanks. I, uh, wanted to apologise about the way things ended last night.'

His words surprise me, but I stay silent, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth.

'It was a good date, I thought. Started out good anyways, I know it got a bit weird towards the end and you kinda pulled back from me,' he comments whilst nervously scratching the back of his head. 'I was hoping that you'd give me a second chance to make it up to you.'

I'm glad he picked up on me pulling away from him. I guess I'd built up an idea of who he was and what he was like, and I was a little surprised with what I saw. But I can't blame him for not living up to my own, irrational idea of what kind of person he is.

I need to get to know him for myself, instead of making assumptions.

'I'd like that,' I respond and he grins.

'Awesome. Is tomorrow too soon?'

I shake my head and he leans across the counter and smirks sexily.

'Good. Cause I'm taking you bowling.'

'Bowling?'

'Yeah, you know that place with the shiny lanes, big balls and giant pins?' He flirts, showing teeth in his smile.

'Bad shoes? Yes, I'm familiar with it,' I reply dryly.

'Good. It'll be more casual than last night. We can take it back to how it was in the beginning of the night; light, easy, you know?'

'Sounds good to me.'

'Awesome. I'll pick you up at six.'

'Okay, see you then.'

I watch Caven leave, as does the author in the window. When the door closes behind Caven, he purposefully looks over in my direction. Our eyes meet for the briefest of seconds before the author looks away and back at his screen.

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Pippa and I lock up the café at four o'clock. She invites me out tonight, but for dinner this time, not drinks.

I change into comfortable jeans and a jumper and walk to the chosen restaurant later on in the evening. The girls are already there and sat at a table when I arrive.

We order our food and a glass of wine each. The moment the menus are taken, they're on me, asking about my date.

I'm completely honest with them. I tell them about how he was a few minutes late, but didn't even mention it or apologise. Even if I was only two minutes late, I would still feel the need to apologise, but I guess that's just me.

I didn't like seeing the slightly nastier side to him, but I suppose that we all have a nasty side. I just didn't think I'd see glimpses of it this early.

The girls share my concerns, but agree that the bowling date tomorrow might help give me a better idea of who he is and whether we are in any way compatible.

All I know is, he's funny, charming and cute and it can't hurt to give dating him a try.

The food comes and I quickly tuck in. This is great, I'll barely have to cook for myself if I keep going out like this. What with going out with Caven tomorrow as well, I might have to put some of the food in my fridge into the freezer at this rate.

'How are you getting on at the café, Lily?' Christie asks whilst we're eating.

'Really good, thanks. I love it!'

Pippa nods in agreement. 'She's a natural. I know that Nan is relieved to have you helping.'

'Aw, that's so good. Do you think you'll stay here for a while, then?' Gilly asks and then pouts. 'Pretty please stay?'

'I will, don't worry.'

'She has to,' Pippa chirps. 'We need to find out what happens with Caven and, if that doesn't work out, I think she's caught the eye of Zane.'

'Zane Torres?' Christie blurts quickly, unable to keep the surprise out of her voice.

'Yeah,' Pippa replies. 'You know how he comes into the café every morning? Well, he kept looking over at Lily today whilst she was working. Oh, don't tell me you didn't notice, Lils!'

'This is news to me!' I retort. 'You never said anything!'

'Because I didn't want to put him or you off. I thought I might jinx it or something. Could you really not feel his eyes on you?'

'No!'

I don't know what to think of feel. I guess I'm a little relieved that I'm not the only one who was staring. I was watching him and, apparently, he was watching me right back.

What a weird duo we would be.

'It's so awful what happened to his mum and sister,' Christie says.

'I know.' Gilly turns to me. 'His sister was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was born. They always knew she wouldn't make it past sixteen. But they didn't know about his mum. She got breast cancer about a year after Lindy, his sister, died. She passed two years later.'

'Poor Zane,' I whisper.

I cannot understand how Caven was mean about him. He's lost more than anyone should ever have to lose.

I'm glad the girls don't know about my past. I don't need their pity. It would suck for them to pity me the way we pity Zane.

'He's sweet, as well. I know he keeps to himself, but when I've spoken to him before he's been very polite,' Christie comments.

'His novels are good, too,' Pippa says. 'I've only read two of them. I think he must be minted though, because he's published like eight or nine books.'

'Okay, I'm thinking he's a good back up for Caven.'

I roll my eyes. 'Relax, guys. Please, can we talk about something else other than my love life?'

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Happy birthday ❤️

Is it tragic that I missed you angels after just one day? L x