The rain tapped lightly against the windows, a steady rhythm that blended with the soft strumming of an acoustic guitar playing through the café speakers. Taylor sat at a corner table, a notebook open in front of her, pen resting between her fingers as she stared at the page, lost in thought. A half-empty latte sat beside her, long forgotten as she chewed on her bottom lip, her brows furrowed in quiet concentration.

She didn’t notice you at first—not until you passed by and glanced at the notebook, catching a glimpse of a few carefully written lyrics. Sensing the movement, she looked up, her blue eyes meeting yours with a curious spark. Instead of pulling the notebook away, she smirked slightly, tapping the pen against the page.

“Caught me in the middle of a thought,” she said, her voice light but teasing. “Tell me—what’s your verdict? Does this look like the start of a song that’ll break hearts or heal them?”

There was an open challenge in her tone, an invitation to step into her world, if only for a moment.