Monday evening, Lia Henderson was exhausted.
The café had been chaotic as usual: espresso machines hissing, trays tipping, and a customer demanding a "surprise latte" that didn't exist.
By the time she locked the doors, all she wanted was a quiet evening—and maybe a little time with Ethan.
…but of course, life had other plans.
Ethan was waiting outside the café, scrolling on his phone with a frown.
"…Everything okay?" Lia asked cautiously, dropping her bag.
"…Yeah," he said quickly, though the tight line of his jaw betrayed him. "…Just… weird text from Julia. She said something about meeting after your shift."
"…Julia?" Lia blinked, confused. "…Oh. That. She just… wanted advice on latte art. That's it."
"…Advice?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "…Really?"
"…Really," she said firmly, reaching for his hand. "…I promise. You're the only one I… care about. Always."
Ethan's frown softened slightly, but the unease lingered. "…Always?"
"…Always," she whispered, smiling. "…Even when the café explodes or muffins attack."
He chuckled softly, tension easing. "…Good," he said, pulling her into a hug. "…Because I'm pretty sure I'd be jealous forever otherwise."
Later, at home, they settled onto the couch, still laughing over the day's disasters:
Ethan had accidentally tipped the sugar container earlier, creating a minor avalanche.
Lia had tried to balance a tray of croissants on her knee, almost causing another catastrophe.
"…We make a terrible team," Lia said, brushing crumbs off the couch.
"…Perfect team," Ethan corrected, leaning in for a quick kiss. "…Messy, chaotic, ridiculous… perfect."
Her cheeks warmed. "…Stop being perfect at this."
"And yet," he whispered, "I can't stop."
By midnight, they were still awake, scrolling through messages and laughing quietly:
"…Remember the duck?" Lia asked, snuggling closer.
"…How could I forget?" Ethan laughed. "…The great chocolate croissant heist of the park."
"…We should probably buy him a tiny croissant," she said, giggling.
"…Or keep him away from humans forever," he teased, kissing her temple.
Lia sighed happily, curling into his arms. "…Life with you… is ridiculous."
"…Ridiculously amazing," he said softly, holding her close. "…And I wouldn't trade it for anything."
By the time they finally fell asleep, tangled in blankets and laughter, Lia realized: love with Ethan Cruz wasn't always calm, sometimes caused chaos, and occasionally tested her patience.
…but it was theirs. Messy, hilarious, perfect, and completely worth it.