It was Saturday and her alarm blared, she has an early shift at the cafe today. Emrys would give her another lecture if she got late again today, and gods above, Aelin have had enough of his lectures. She stretched and dressed in her uniform, black pants, a pair of sneakers and black shirt and tied her now shoulder length hair into a ponytail. The sun hasn't risen quite yet, she doubted Aedion is awake so she slipped out of the house.
She barely made it on time, Luca was already placing the baked goods made by Emrys on the display rack. She wore her gray apron with Mistward Cafe written across the top part.
"Good thing you're here," she twisted to see Emrys with a full tray of croissants in hand. "Maeve's nephew will be visiting today to see if things are doing good here. And he might also frequent this place since he moved here to continue his college here and personally manage the place."
Maeve is a very rich business woman who owns Mistward, though the cafe is small, it is getting really famous and people are falling in line just to try one of their delicacies. Before, Malakai, Emrys, Luca and Aelin are enough to keep the place running, but now, they have to hire part time students because of the number of customers they get everyday. Mistward is definitely going big and Maeve, known for her perfectionist nature, doesn't want any mishaps now that the cafe is getting good reviews. Aelin haven't met Maeve since she started working here about a year and a half ago, but she knows that Maeve is intimidating and would prefer to work with her nephew. If that's the case, Aelin thought, she might as well get started working.
A good couple of hours passed and people are spilling in the cafe, Aelin and Luca worked efficiently in the counter while Emrys and Malakai prepared the food at the kitchen. Aedion dropped by to buy himself breakfast and inform her that Rowan will be moving in today. Aelin was too preoccupied to even think of Rowan moving in today. When she agreed to take Rowan as their new housemate, Aedion made her promise to try to be nice, and Aelin wanted it too but she knew she'd never like the guy, ever. So she decided that she'd just be civil and act like a normal human being with a house mate but not more than that. Well, she promised to try.
Aelin shook the thought away and greeted the next customer in line without looking up. "Good morning, what can I get you?"
"I'm here for Emrys," a very familiar deep voice asked.
Aelin quickly looked up, shock in her face as she saw Rowan standing on the other side of the counter, she looked behind him, and there's no customer waiting in line behind him. Did he actually wait for them to finish serving customers before asking for Emrys? Aelin thought.
Rowan's expression said Well? Where's Emrys?
"Emrys is at the kitchen," Aelin said too quickly and hated that this guy has that effect on her. Rowan looked at her for a full second before entering the counter and heading straight for the kitchen.
"So that's Maeve's nephew?" Luca said, Aelin thought she saw Luca paled at the sight of Rowan.
"No, it's impossible, it can't be," Aelin was in denial. "Maybe he's Emrys' family or something." she waved her hand in their general direction.
Luca shrugged "But Emrys does not let his personal matters intrude with work, if he's family, Emrys would be kicking him out of the kitchen already."
At this, Aelin doesn't have an answer, instead she just busied herself cleaning up while there are no customers waiting in line. Hoping that fate wouldn't let Rowan and her path cross again.
Rowan is in fact, Maeve's nephew and will be managing the cafe from now on. Emrys showed him the cafe, and how things work around and introduced everyone.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Whitethorn," Luca said extending his hand.
"Please, call me Rowan, no need for formalities," Rowan answered politely and shook Luca's stretched hands.
"And this is Aelin, she's been with us for about a year and a half, she also studies at the university," Emrys said like a proud father.
Rowan was wearing a button down shirt, the sleeves folded just below the elbow, his pants perfectly fitted his strong legs, his silver hair stood out with the dark blue color of his shirt, his tattoo still has that severe effect on his handsome face, "Aelin," he said, giving her a half smile. To which Aelin nodded in response. Then Emrys continued on to the other part timers in this shift, which Aelin noticed are literally swooning at Rowan.
"Well he's not that bad, is he?" Luca said, nudging Aelin.
"Easy for you to say," Aelin mumbled, she can't believe she actually has to deal with Rowan at home and now here, where she works.
"Come on now, he's nice, despite the tattoo, and look, he's getting along with the girls!" Luca glancing towards where Rowan is having an easy conversation with the other staff, Aelin followed Luca's view and rolled her eyes.
Of course. Aelin thought.
Rowan was long gone before Aelin's shift at the cafe ended, so there was no surprise that when she arrived at their house, Rowan's car was parked out front with a uhaul trailer opened. She sighed and walked up the front porch where Lysandra is casually sitting at one of the chairs and watching Aedion and Rowan haul things out of the trailer.
"You're one lucky gal, you know that?" Lysandra greeted her. "I mean, Aedion's obviously hot, and now, this guy."
"First of all, hi, Lysandra, glad to see you too, I've missed you this summer by the way. Second, Aedion's my cousin, I know you two have been fooling around, but I didn't need to know the details. And third, please stop fantasizing about our new house mate while you have this thing with my cousin." Aelin answered.
"Such a killjoy! If you don't think that that…" Lysandra said pointing at Rowan "is not hot, I don't know what's your definition of it." Aelin looked at where Lysandra is pointing and sure enough, Rowan tossed his button down shirt and now carrying his own stuff effortlessly with that muscly body he has. Aelin had to look away, because she was sure her face is turning bright red. She hated that he has an effect like this to her.
"You know what, I'm gonna be late for class, I need to shower first, I'm reeking of butter and flour." Aelin said, changing the topic. "Are you coming with me to class or you'd rather watch these two hulking brutes transfer things from point A to point B?"
"Go shower, and cool that head of yours, you know where to find me," Lysandra winked.
So Aelin got up to her room and peeked at her window where she can see the silver haired guy downstairs.