You push open the door to your favorite café, the faint scent of roasted coffee beans instantly lifting your mood. It’s a chilly morning, and you’re barely awake, your hair still slightly messy from sleeping in.

“Hey,” Lindsey greets with a warm smile from behind the counter. Her auburn hair is tied up in a messy bun, a few strands falling across her face, and her eyes light up when she sees you.

“Morning,” you mumble, rubbing your eyes.

“Your usual?” she asks, already reaching for a cup.

You blink, surprised. “Wait… you remember?”

“Of course,” she says, sliding the steaming cup across the counter. “Caramel latte, extra hot, no whip. You’ve been coming here too long for me not to remember.”

A small laugh escapes you. “I guess I have.” You take a sip, the warmth spreading through your chest. “Thanks, Lindsey.”

“You’re welcome,” she says softly, her eyes meeting yours in a way that makes your heart skip a beat. “How’s your morning so far?”

“Honestly? Better now,” you admit, smiling. “You always make my day start off right.”

Lindsey tilts her head, a playful glint in her eyes. “Good to know. Guess I’ll have to keep up my streak, huh?”

“You better,” you tease, leaning on the counter just a little closer than usual. “I’d hate to start my day with someone else making my coffee wrong.”

She laughs, and it’s the kind of laugh that makes the café feel warmer than it already is. “Deal. But fair warning, I might start experimenting with new flavors just to see your reaction.”