chapter 10

Chapter 10

Mia's POV

Mia woke up to a knock.

Which was confusing for multiple reasons. First of all, it was way too early for humans to be knocking. Second, she had fully planned on staying in bed until noon and wallowing in her own thirst traps. And third, no one ever came to her door without texting first unless it was her landlord or a ghost.

She shuffled to the door still wrapped in the same oversized hoodie from yesterday with mascara smudged under one eye like a raccoon who had been through it. She opened the door and there on her doormat was a coffee carrier with two drinks. Next to it a tiny brown envelope with her name on it written in messy boy handwriting. She snatched it all up and slammed the door like she was protecting national secrets.

She opened the card first. Her hands were shaking and she hated that they were shaking but also kind of loved it because this was so not her usual vibe.

Mia

In case you were thirsty this morning

Your photos were not safe for work but I regret nothing

Come see me

Jamie

Her stomach did a little somersault. She picked up the drink and took a sip and yep it was her exact order. And the second drink? Black with a cinnamon stick. His.

He had brought himself coffee too. Like a cute domestic little offering. Like he had imagined her sleepy and in his hoodie and wanted to be part of that morning.

She needed to scream into a pillow for emotional reasons.

Instead she took a long sip and texted him.

Mia: okay this is officially boyfriend behavior

Jamie: maybe I want the job

Mia: you're hired

She stared at the screen grinning like an idiot until her group chat came to life again.

Kai: did u survive

Zach: is jamie still alive or did u kill him with those swimsuit pics

Kai: rate the morning after on a scale from 1 to i already picked our wedding song

Mia: I just got a coffee delivery with a flirty note

Zach: oh he is WHIPPED

Kai: you are so powerful

---

By noon Mia was dressed and determined to act normal even though her brain was still short-circuiting from the text exchange. She hadn't planned to go to Cosmos today but her feet had a mind of their own and now she was walking into the shop trying to look casual while her heart screamed.

Jamie was behind the counter in a black tee that hugged his arms just a little too well and she immediately needed to sit down. Or lie down. Or scream.

He looked up and saw her and his entire face lit up in a way that made her feel like someone had turned the sun on just for her.

He leaned on the counter and smirked at her like they had all the secrets in the world between them.

Jamie: fancy seeing you here

Mia: I was in the neighborhood and craving attention

He laughed and motioned for her to come around the counter. She hesitated but he just reached for her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world and pulled her into the back area where sacks of beans and espresso machines lived in holy silence.

Jamie: wanted to show you the good stuff

Mia: I thought that was me

He looked at her like he wanted to kiss her right there between the grinders and cleaning rags and it made her knees do something very uncool.

Jamie: it is you

Mia: smooth

Jamie: only for you

The spell broke when another barista yelled something about oat milk and Jamie groaned.

Jamie: one sec duty calls

Mia: go be a coffee hero I'll just stand here being your mysterious hot visitor

She wandered while he worked. Watched him interact with customers. Saw two girls giggle and lean a little too far over the counter when they ordered. Her stomach twisted. Jealousy was not her usual color but it was trying to match her outfit now.

Jamie caught her watching and winked so openly she almost forgot how to breathe.

He mouthed you're the only one I want and she felt her jealousy melt into something warmer and way more dangerous.

---

Meanwhile

Zach's POV

Zach was lying on Kai's bed scrolling through TikTok while Kai was pretending to reorganize his closet for the third time that day. The tension was weird. Not bad. Just weird. Like every time they made eye contact something unsaid passed between them and neither of them was brave enough to say it out loud.

Zach: you good

Kai: yeah just thinking

Zach: dangerous

Kai smirked.

Kai: I saw how you looked when Mia said she was sending Jamie thirst traps

Zach: I looked supportive

Kai: you looked like you were imagining someone sending you those

Zach: maybe I was

The silence stretched.

Then Kai turned around holding one of Zach's hoodies.

Kai: you left this here last week

Zach: you stole that

Kai: I am returning it

Zach: after wearing it around your house like a boyfriend

Kai: you say that like it's a bad thing

Zach stared at him. Kai stared right back.

And okay maybe the story of Mia and Jamie was just the beginning.

Because whatever was happening here?

This was a slow burn with gasoline on it.