Morning arrived slowly and golden, dripping through the city like syrup. The streets still glistened from last night’s rain, puddles catching fragments of sky. Navarro Coffee opened its doors to the scent of roasted beans and fresh beginnings — the kind that felt fragile, borrowed.

Inside, the hum of machines filled the air. Steam curled from the espresso wand. Celine tied her apron, hair pulled into a loose bun that the morning light caught like a halo. Across from her, Liam was already at ...