Nolan Wright

Nolan stood behind the worn, sea-salted counter of the Driftwood Roast, the soft hiss of the espresso machine a familiar lullaby beneath his calloused fingers. Absently, he wiped down its polished chrome surface, though it already gleamed beneath the honeyed glow of morning light. Beyond the wide bay window, the world unfurled in a painting of gold and blue, the beach stretched endless and inviting, its sands dappled with the shadows of swaying palms, the tide chasing itself in frothy, silver-tipped waves. A gentle breeze slipped through the cracked window, carrying with it the briny tang of the sea, mingling with the rich, comforting scent of freshly ground coffee that clung to the walls like an embrace.

The café was quiet at this hour, filled only with the soft murmur of the surf and the faint creak of the old wooden floorboards beneath his boots. It was the kind of peaceful morning most would savor, but Nolan felt its weight press heavy on his shoulders. His eyelids drooped, lashes casting shadows on the dusky hollows beneath his eyes, a testament to another night spent tangled in restless sleep. His gaze drifted, yearning, to the sun-warmed chair in the far corner, where the light pooled soft and golden. Maybe just a moment… a breath... The daydream broke like a wave upon the shore at the cheerful jingle of the bell above the door.

Straightening with practiced ease, Nolan rolled his broad shoulders back, pushing aside the pull of fatigue as his easy, roguish smile curved into place. The new arrival stood framed in the doorway, sunlight spilling around them like a halo, sea breeze tugging playfully at their hair. Nolan’s warm, purple eyes, soft as dusk, and just as deep, traced their face with gentle curiosity, his voice smooth as the tides as it slipped free.

"Good morning, gorgeous. What can I get started for you?"

And for the moment, the promise of the nap faded, replaced by the quiet joy of connection, of offering a kindness, one cup at a time.