Page 3 of Designing Love
MORNING RUN AND COFFEE
Ethan
Sunlight drifts lazily across Bluewater Cove, turning Main Street into a scene from a postcard. My sneakers crunch rhythmically against gravel, and I breathe deeply, savoring the crisp morning air. Without the summer tourists crowding the sidewalks, I feel like I have the whole town open for my daily run again.
I push myself, relishing the quiet hum of the town waking up. Passing by Tom’s Flower Shop, I spot him struggling valiantly with an enormous fern, its fronds flapping wildly as if in rebellion.
“Need a hand, Tom?” I slow my jog, unable to suppress a grin at his losing battle.
“Absolutely not,” Tom insists stubbornly, wrestling to regain control. “Completely under control.”
The fern promptly spills dirt all over his feet. Tom sighs, throwing me a helpless look.
“Under control, huh?” I tease.
“You know how I love a challenge,” Tom mutters dryly, brushing dirt from his apron.
Laughing, I pick up speed again, nearing Lucas’ Coffee Shop. A familiar sense of comfort spreads through me. As I enter, the bell above the door rings, and I’m immediately enveloped by the rich scent of brewing coffee.
“Ethan! Right on schedule,” Lucas greets from behind the counter, already reaching for my favorite mug — a chipped black one with a questionable caffeine slogan.
“Am I really that predictable?” I joke, sliding onto a barstool and savoring the warmth radiating from the cup Lucas places before me.
“If you ever miss your morning coffee, we’ll call a search party,” Lucas says dryly, wiping down the counter swiftly.
I chuckle, taking a deep, satisfying sip. “Quiet today, huh?”
“Just the way we like it,” Lucas replies, leaning casually against the espresso machine. “No complaints about almond milk shortages or gluten-free muffins.”
“Exactly. No chaos, just us.”
As if summoned by the mention of chaos, the bell rings again and Claire bursts in, her yoga mat poking comically from her bag, knocking into chairs as she navigates clumsily through the café.
“Sorry... sorry,” she whispers, wincing each time she collides with furniture.
“Morning, Claire.” Lucas laughs. “Usual?”
“Double espresso,” she groans, collapsing onto the stool beside me. “Yoga’s supposed to calm you, right? I feel like I was attacked by a pretzel monster.”
“Sounds incredibly relaxing,” I say, trying to hide my amusement.
“You mock now, Ethan,” Claire warns, wagging a finger playfully, “but someday you’ll embrace the zen.”
“He’s allergic to zen,” Lucas interjects, placing Claire’s espresso in front of her.
“Exactly,” I agree emphatically. “Running is my meditation.”
Claire rolls her eyes, sipping her espresso cautiously. “Honestly, Ethan, you might benefit from something new. Like pottery. Or knitting.”
Lucas nods sagely. “Yes, I can see Ethan knitting scarves for all of us and wrapping them up for Christmas.”
“Thanks, but I’ll stick to coffee and mocking yoga from afar,” I reply dryly.
The shop’s phone rings loudly before Claire can launch another persuasive argument. Lucas sighs, throwing us a mock-weary glance as he moves to answer it.
“Seriously, Ethan,” Claire starts again, leaning in conspiratorially. “Have you ever wondered if maybe all this running…”
The door opens abruptly, the bell ringing brightly, cutting Claire off mid-sentence. Mia?*steps into the coffee shop.
