MARIA POV
I arrived at the café just as James was lifting the metal shutter, the familiar sound echoing through the quiet early morning. The scent of fresh coffee mingled with the faint tang of cleaning supplies, grounding me as I waved to him. He looked over, flashing that easy, boy-next-door smile—the kind that could make anyone feel special for a second.
"Morning, sunshine," he greeted, tilting his head in that charming way, his eyes bright in the dim morning light. "Ready to wake up the campus?"
"Morning, James," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual. But as I forced a smile, a small pang of guilt hit me. James was nice, funny, incredibly good-looking. He kissed well, flirted with a practiced ease, and was exactly the kind of guy who could have stolen my attention…if it weren’t f
