Tour life was exhausting—endless flights, stadiums packed with screaming fans, interviews that blurred together. I needed a morning that felt… normal. No cameras. No managers. No rehearsals. Just coffee.

I slipped into a little café tucked away from the usual tourist spots, the kind of place with faded menus and warm light spilling across wooden tables. My eyes scanned the room for a table, but then I noticed her.

She was behind the counter, tying her apron, moving with that effortless grace that made even the mundane look beautiful. Her smile reached her eyes when she greeted a customer, quick and bright, like sunshine spilling into the room. I felt my chest tighten slightly.

“Morning,” I said, sliding onto a stool near the counter. My usual charm kicked in before I could stop it. “I’ll have whatever you’re having—looks like you pick the best thing for breakfast.”

She laughed softly, and I swear it sounded like music over the low hum of the café. “That’s not really how it works, but sure. I’ll make you something good.”

I watched her work, noticing little things—the way she brushed her hair back, the way she leaned just slightly when she placed a cup in front of someone, the sparkle in her eyes when she laughed. By the time she turned to me with my order, I was already smitten.

“You sure you’re not just saying that because I’m handsome?” I teased, a grin tugging at my lips.

Her eyebrows shot up, amused. “Maybe a little,” she said, rolling her eyes playfully. “But mostly, no.”

I laughed, leaning closer across the counter. “Good to know. So… what do I have to do to see you again?”

Her eyes flicked to mine, bright and teasing. “You don’t even know me yet,” she said.

“Details, details,” I said smoothly. “Give me your number. That’s step one.”

She hesitated for only a heartbeat before scribbling it down and sliding it across to me. “You better not text at midnight or anything,” she warned.

“I can’t make promises,” I said with a grin, tucking the slip of paper into my wallet like it was a treasure. “But I can make it worth your while.”

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head at me, but the laugh that escaped her was genuine, and I knew I was already hooked.

By the time I left the café, I wasn’t just thinking about breakfast. I was thinking about her, her smile, her laugh, and how quickly a morning meant to be normal had become something I couldn’t wait to repeat.