Chapter 1 Strangers in the Supermarket

Chapter One

Lysander hated grocery shopping. It was an errand she barely had time for, sandwiched between long shifts at the hospital and the few hours of sleep she managed to squeeze in. But here she was, in the middle of a bustling supermarket, hunting down a specific brand of coffee because Sienna had dramatically declared she wouldn't survive another morning without it.

She weaved through the aisles quickly, ignoring the chatter of other shoppers and the faint hum of pop music playing overhead. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly, and the cool air smelled faintly of citrus and freshly baked bread from the nearby bakery section.

Spotting the coffee on the top shelf, Lysander stretched onto the tips of her toes, fingers just grazing the edge of the box. She let out a frustrated sigh. Of course, it had to be out of reach.

Just as she contemplated climbing the lower shelf for better leverage, an arm reached past her, easily grabbing the coffee she'd been struggling with.

She turned sharply, expecting to thank an employee-only to be met with an annoyingly smug expression.

"Having trouble, sweetheart?"

The man holding the coffee was tall, his dark hair slightly tousled in a way that looked effortlessly styled rather than messy. His sharp jawline and piercing green eyes made it impossible not to stare for a second too long.

Lysander quickly shook off the brief moment of distraction. "I'm not your sweetheart," she said, crossing her arms. "And I don't need your help."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Really? Because it looked like you were about to start rock climbing."

"Give me the coffee," she said, ignoring his teasing tone.

Instead of handing it over, he inspected the box, as if deciding whether it was good enough. "Sienna must be picky if she insists on this brand."

Lysander stiffened. "How do you-"

He smirked. "You muttered her name while reaching for it. Either that, or you just really love talking to yourself."

Lysander snatched the coffee from his hand. "Thanks for the unnecessary commentary."

She turned on her heel, eager to put distance between herself and the infuriating stranger, but he fell into step beside her effortlessly.

"So, do I get a name, or should I keep calling you Coffee Girl?"

Lysander exhaled sharply. "You should try calling me nothing."

"Hmm." He shoved his hands into his pockets, as if entirely unbothered by her disinterest. "I like Coffee Girl better."

She stopped abruptly, turning to glare at him. "Look, I don't know what your deal is, but I have places to be, so-"

"You're a nurse, right?"

Her frown deepened. "How do you know that?"

He tapped his temple. "Observant. You've got that exhausted-but-determined look. And," he gestured vaguely at her tote bag, "your hospital ID is kind of sticking out."

Lysander cursed internally and shoved it deeper into her bag.

"Now that we've established I'm perceptive, I think it's only fair you tell me your name."

She exhaled slowly, debating whether to keep ignoring him or just get this conversation over with. Against her better judgment, she muttered, "Lysander."

The smirk returned, like he'd just won something.

"Nolan Castille." He extended a hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Coffee Girl."

Lysander stared at his outstretched hand for a second, then walked away without another word.

She heard him chuckle behind her.

Something told her this wouldn't be the last time she saw him.