Where was he?

Flora pursed her lips and glanced about the cafe for the hundredth time. There were two little old ladies in the corner drinking tea and reminiscing about their younger years. At another table, a man in thick framed glasses periodically ceased his rapid typing on the laptop in front of him to take a sip of his cappuccino. Then there was the young couple sitting in the armchairs by the pick-up counter, leaning in close and whispering covertly

But no Julian.

Seeing the giddy smiles shared between the couple made Flora long for Julian's company all the more so. It had been over a week since she had seen him when normally they didn't go three days without bumping into each other.

Where had he gone?

Sipping at her cafe macchiato, Flora's mind wandered back to the last time she had seen him, back to that moment when she'd had the sudden urge to grab hold of his face and kiss his lips. If Tamia hadn't been waiting for her, would she have done it? Would she have been so daring? She typically didn't even think of being so bold, but whenever he smiled, it sent a wave of warmth through her entire body. It was like sunshine trying to break through her skin. It made her want to do crazy, impulsive things.

Heaving a sigh, Flora took another sip of her macchiato. She missed that smile. It had become a constant in her life. And now that it was gone, it was like there was a gaping hole inside of her. Why had he stopped coming to the cafe? Had she been too forward the last time they were together? Was he only interested in her as a quirky friend who he occasionally bumped into on his coffee run?

That wasn't a possibility Flora wanted to consider. Why hadn't she gotten his number? She had absolutely no way of contacting him to make sure he was at least all right. She did know where he worked. But would it be creepy and stalkerish to just show up at the diner? Would it be overbearing?

Biting her lip, Flora turned her eyes to her phone. She scrolled through her music, stopping when Julian's favorite song caught her eye. She stared at it sadly before shaking her head. Gathering up her things, she grabbed her drink and headed for the door.

Somehow drinking coffee by herself just wasn't as appealing as it used to be.