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Chapter Three
“You’re early today,” I note as Sylar walks into the café just as I open the next morning.
He arches a dark, thick brow. “I didn’t realize I had an exact time that I came in.”
I can feel my cheeks heat as I give away the fact that I noticed this. Yeah, I pay attention to these things, sue me. I shrug, trying to play it off. “It’s my job to pay attention to my customers’ needs.”
Oh fuck.
Did I just say that?
Did that just sound like…?
Okay, now I know I’m blushing, and I know he can see it. He doesn’t say anything though, nor does his expression give anything away. He just studies me, waiting.
Oh, right. I should probably do my job.
I clear my throat. “What can I get you? The usual?”
“Two, please,” he says, pulling his wallet out.
“Two long blacks?” I confirm, wondering who the other one is for. Or does he plan to drink two?
He nods and places a twenty on the table. I glance up at him whilst I’m getting his order. “Been in town long?”
He shakes his head, but doesn’t elaborate. Finding out information about him is like pulling teeth, and it just makes me more curious.
“Do you live here?” I pry, wondering if he is just passing through. “Or are you here for work or something?”
“I just moved here,” he says, shifting on his feet, as if uncomfortable. “Kind of like an early retirement.”
My eyebrows rise. He looks like he’s about thirty years old, midthirties at the oldest. How can he be retiring? Maybe he’s making a joke. I eye his expression. No, there’s no joking there. I wonder if he’s ever told a joke his whole life. I doubt he’s going to have any laugh lines appear anytime soon. Maybe he’s rich, or has a trust fund or something. I don’t ask. Money is a subject most people don’t feel comfortable talking about, and I don’t want to make him not want to come here anymore because I ask so many questions.
“I hope you like it here,” I settle on saying, smiling and placing his two coffees in a tray and handing it to him.
He glances around the café. “This place is yours?”
I nod. “Yeah, it’s a family business.” I tilt my head to the side. “Or at least it was. I run it alone now.”
“Where are your parents?” he asks, blue eyes pinned on me yet giving nothing away. I’ve never spoken to anyone who hides his emotions so well before. Nothing plays out on his face, and I have to wonder why that is. What is it about this man that has me so curious? Is it because he’s such a mystery? He’s definitely not my type. I don’t go for the ones that give off an alpha male vibe. At least I don’t anymore.
“Retired,” I say, smirking. “They waited a little longer than you did.”
His lip twitches, and I feel like I’ve accomplished something huge. A tiny reaction, but a good one nonetheless. “I’m still working, just a change in career paths, I guess you can say. I’m doing some construction work now.”
“Cool,” I say, tucking his change money into the tray so he can’t try and give me another tip. “I’m trying to renovate my house right now. Doing a questionable job, but I’m trying.”
His eyes widen. “By yourself?”
I nod.
He shifts on his feet, looks towards the door, then back at me. “You don’t have a man?”
I shake my head. “No man. How about you, are you single?”
I hope he is, although I don’t know why. It’s not like anything will come out of this; he’s a customer, and obviously not much of a people person, although he seems to be opening up to me. Maybe that’s why I’m so interested. I don’t know.
He barks out a short laugh, one that sounds more bitter than anything. “Yeah. I don’t have a woman.”
