Rosie pov

I was the one who said I needed space, yet I missed him. I didn’t know how he’d grown on me. My heart ached and yearned to run to him, but I couldn’t. I should know my place.

I was just building myself up for another heartbreak. I should stop whatever was building before it bloomed, because I knew—this would shatter me completely, worse than Josh’s betrayal.

I’d tried my best effort to arrive at school early so that I wouldn’t catch Jude, even swallowing my anxiety and sitting in the middle of the students. And after class, I ran out to the café. I could feel Jude wanted to talk to me, but what would I say?

There was this constant voice in my head, always there to make me feel worthless.

I felt tears sting my eyes and I blinked them away as I tried to focus on the customer in front of me. Since I’d told Jude to give me space, headaches had been coming in and out and I thought it should be stress from overthinking and work clashing on me.

The afternoon shift was always busy, but today was double—maybe because the new winter recipe special came out and both regular and new customers wanted to buy. I even saw some familiar faces from my neighborhood and school. Though I didn’t talk to them, my brain knew them.

I was boxing up fresh-baked pastries when a man in a business suit stepped up to the counter, already frowning.

“Finally,” he snapped. “I’ve been waiting forever.”

“I’m sorry for the wait, sir. What can I get you?” I kept my voice polite, even though my head was pounding.

“Large black coffee. And make it hot this time. Last time I was here, it was lukewarm.” the customer grumbled, clutching the handle of his briefcase.

“Of course. I’ll make sure it’s fresh.” I turned to the espresso machine, hands shaking slightly as I prepared his order. The headache was getting worse. I just needed to get through this shift and go home.

When I handed him the cup, he took a sip immediately and his face twisted in disgust.

“This is terrible. Did you even try?”

“Sir, I—”

“Don’t ‘sir’ me. This tastes like shit.” He slammed the cup down on the counter, coffee sloshing over the rim. “I want a refund. And a new coffee that is made properly this time.”

“I can make you a new one right away—”

“You should’ve made it right the first time!” His voice rose, drawing stares from other customers. “What kind of incompetent—”

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, already reaching for a new cup. “Let me fix that for you.”

“You people are all the same. Useless.” He grabbed for a stack of napkins to wipe the spilled coffee, and in his irritation, shoved me aside roughly to reach them.

It wasn’t violent, but it was hard enough that I stumbled back, my hip hitting the counter. I gasped, more from surprise than pain.

At that exact moment, the café door chimed.

My head snapped toward it and I was shocked to see Jude. A noise came from his throat—something like a growl that made me jump a little. Was that possible? As I stared at his face, something caught my attention when his amber eyes split for a second, flickering to something else, something golden and wild, and I had to blink to see if my eyes were playing tricks on me or if the stress was already catching up to me.

I blinked again and his eyes were amber and I sighed, not before I caught how his posture was tensed, his broad shoulders hunched, his jaw clenched so tight the muscle twitched.

Jude strode to me and stood beside me and I tried my best not to latch onto his scent as I breathed in, feeling the sore muscles easing and I leaned a little closer to him.

I missed him. I wouldn’t deny that. I missed his scent, his voice, his hooded gaze, his smiles, and everything.

I wanted—

What did you want again?

I quickly moved my eyes away from Jude to face the customer, who had taken a step back. His not-so-domineering stance faltered compared to Jude’s and I wanted to smile.

“You need to apologize to her.” Jude’s voice rumbled out, deep within his chest. I could feel the vibration and it sent a zap of sparks through my body. Even though his voice was dark, it was calm, and his hard gaze was on the startled customer.

There was something terrifying and dominant in the way he stood—authoritative, protective, something simmering beneath the surface. And I wanted to touch his arm, to tell him I was okay, to calm him down.

What was that again?

The customer visibly gulped and mumbled out an apology as he tried to move.

Jude stopped him. “Louder!” he commanded and I winced, clutching my apron.

It didn’t matter, but I wouldn’t lie—I didn’t like seeing this frustrating customer with his tail between his legs.

“I’m sorry,” the customer said.

“Louder. Make it as loud as you were shouting earlier.”

He was protecting me. He was defending me. He took my side. Even when the man was shouting earlier, no one stood up. They just sat there and watched. Maya had gone out, the two bakers were outside bringing the supplies in, and the other part-timer had taken a quick recess.

But now, people in the café looked uncomfortable as they kind of bowed their heads or looked down at their tables, which looked surprising.

Weren’t they watching earlier?

The customer flinched. His legs wobbled as he craned his neck. He looked uncomfortable and scared and I wanted to tell Jude it was okay. He didn’t need any more. I was happy with the two apologies.

The customer fell to his knees. “I’m sorry!” The voice came out torn and I gulped.

Jude turned to me, his gaze softened, which contrasted with how he was looking at the customer. He smiled. “Is this okay?” he asked and I nodded eagerly.

The customer visibly stiffened when Jude asked me, but his shoulders relaxed when he heard my response.

“Out!”

And the customer scrambled out, running like his life was in jeopardy.

After everything had settled, the café fell into dead silence. I licked my lower lip. “Thank you.” 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

And Jude smiled and started to move away from me even though he looked like he didn’t want to, and a whine sound escaped me—what was that?!—and I immediately clamped my mouth shut, embarrassed.

I glanced up and he stared at me. I was mortified. What was that sound?

He moved back and I sighed in relief. There was always this calming effect that Jude exuded that made me feel so much more comfortable.

Both of us stood awkwardly, didn’t know how to go about talking, and Jude sighed. “I’m sorry. I butted in when you told me you needed space,” he said, but I could see his jaw clench.

I touched his arm and I felt him stiffen. My heart beat wildly at the contact, but I didn’t stop. “You saved me. You came in like a knight in shining armor,” I said softly. “I really meant my thank you earlier...” I trailed off. “And for the space issue—” A pregnant pause. “I’m sorry.”

I apologized because I noticed I couldn’t function well without him there. I needed him like a fresh breath of air.

“I didn’t mean that,” I mumbled, clutching his sleeve tighter like he would leave me if I didn’t.

“I know,” he said gently, his gaze softened so that I could feel warmth from it as he trailed the pad of his thumb on my cheek.

A zap of electricity flew between us and I could feel myself leaning into the touch, but the moment broke when the part-timer walked in with his loud voice.

I jolted away, looking flustered as I twisted my hands while Jude rubbed the back of his neck, not before I heard that same growl sound from him.

And I wanted to smile because his expression looked cute.

“I’ll see you in class tomorrow,” he mumbled, even though it felt like he didn’t want to leave.

“Yeah,” it came out breathless and he smiled before walking away, taking away his scent, comfort, and presence.