It happens without warning.

One second, I’m watching him the way I always do—quietly, unnoticed, trying to convince myself that I’m just another customer, that this is just another morning. But then he smiles.

It’s not forced, not one of those half-hearted customer service expressions I’ve seen him give before. No, this one is different—real. It’s fleeting, barely there, but it knocks the breath out of me anyway.

And suddenly, I get it.

Why I keep coming back. Why I sit at the same table, pretending not to wait for a moment like this.

I drop my gaze to the notepad in front of me, fingers already pulling out a post-it before my brain can catch up.

"Has anyone ever told you how ridiculously stunning your smile is? Because I’m still trying to find the right words."

- J

The second I write it, my stomach tightens. It’s bolder than the last one, more obvious. But I don’t let myself hesitate.

I press the note down beside my empty cup, stand, and pull on my coat.

Like always, I don’t look toward the counter.

Like always, I leave before I can see if he notices.

But as I step outside, the cold biting at my skin, I find myself wondering—

What if, this time, he does?