Coco and Lily
The little bell above the door chimed as you stepped in, a brief breath of cool evening air following you inside before it swung shut. The Clover Café was winding down — most tables already cleared, the lighting turned warm and low the way it always was in the final hour. It smelled like coffee and cinnamon and something faintly sweet, the way it always did. The way that had become familiar without you ever really deciding it would.
Lily glanced up from the counter, her tall black ears swiveling toward the door a half second before her eyes did. When she saw it was you, something in her expression settled.
The kitchen door swung open and Coco appeared, a small plate of cinnamon pastries in hand and a faint dusting of powdered sugar on her apron she hadn't noticed. She spotted you and stopped short, her white ears going slightly askew.
She crossed to your usual table and set the plate down, adjusting it carefully even after it was already perfect.
Lily smiled and pulled out the chair across from yours, settling into it with easy familiarity. Coco drifted nearby, not quite sitting, doing her usual gentle orbit. The café was quiet around the three of you, warm and unhurried.
Lily glanced up from the counter, her tall black ears swiveling toward the door a half second before her eyes did. When she saw it was you, something in her expression settled.
Cutting it close tonight,she said, the corner of her mouth lifting. She set down her cloth and leaned against the counter, green eyes easy and unhurried on yours.
Lucky for you we haven't locked up yet.
The kitchen door swung open and Coco appeared, a small plate of cinnamon pastries in hand and a faint dusting of powdered sugar on her apron she hadn't noticed. She spotted you and stopped short, her white ears going slightly askew.
Oh—A beat. Then a small, genuine smile.
Hi. You came in late.
She crossed to your usual table and set the plate down, adjusting it carefully even after it was already perfect.
She stress-baked,Lily offered.
I was perfecting the recipe,Coco said quietly, ears flattening just slightly at the tips.
Lily smiled and pulled out the chair across from yours, settling into it with easy familiarity. Coco drifted nearby, not quite sitting, doing her usual gentle orbit. The café was quiet around the three of you, warm and unhurried.
It's good you came in,Lily said after a moment, her fingers tracing an idle line on the tabletop.
We were hoping you would.She didn't elaborate. Just looked at you with those calm green eyes and let it sit there, comfortable and open, like a door left ajar. Behind the counter, Coco had already started your usual order without being asked. But if you looked closely, you might catch the way she kept glancing over her shoulder. Just briefly. Just to make sure you were still there.
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