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Asa walked into the coffee shop and headed straight for the counter.
The Little Notes of Coffee was a lovely place, decorated in warm colors. Soft jazz music played over the speakers, enhancing the cozy ambiance.
Nina and Maggie were the owners of the coffee shop and vintage vinyl record store. Nina ran the coffee shop, and Maggie ran the record store. They had designed the layout so that customers had to pass through Maggie’s store when leaving the coffee shop.
"Asa!"
He turned to Maggie, who crossed the coffee shop to reach him.
"Hello, Maggie."
"Well, it's been a long time since you deigned to pay us a visit, Mr. Bookseller."
He turned to Nina, who was coming out of the back room with a rag in her hand.
"Good evening, Nina."
He smiled sheepishly and said, "Sorry, I...I have..."
"Been really busy with your professor?" Nina continued.
Asa blushed slightly and said, "Who told you about... No, don't say another word. Derek."
Nina snickered. "Ask Maggie how many times he's told us about your first meeting and how he's an excellent matchmaker."
Asa couldn't help but chuckle.
"Cappuccino, as usual?"
"Yes, but add a double espresso, too."
Nina raised an eyebrow. "For whom?"
"For Anthony."
Maggie exclaimed, "Is he coming here?"
Asa nodded, amused by Nina’s nonchalant curiosity and Maggie’s more exuberant one. Though the two women seemed different in many ways—and even though Maggie had struggled to convince the barista to go out with her, ending up in tears more than once in the bookshop because of it—it was clear now that they were a match made in heaven, and that the two women loved each other deeply.
Asa had sometimes envied them, but now...
Thinking about Anthony, he couldn’t help but smile.
"Oh my goodness! I can’t wait for your professor to arrive! I need to see who’s got you looking so dreamy."
"Nina, sweetie, stop teasing him and bring his coffee to his table."
Maggie wrapped her arm around Asa’s shoulders and continued, "We're going to sit down, and you're going to tell me everything, Asa."
Asa shook his head, thinking that she was as bad as Nina.
By the time they sat down, Nina arrived with the coffees. After checking that no customers were coming, she sat down with them.
"No, but seriously, Asa, that look really suits you."
"It's true. You know we only tease you because we’re happy for you."
Asa felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, took it out, and saw that he had a text message.
I’ll be there in 10 minutes.
He took a picture of the coffee cups and sent the photo with the caption below:
You’re the only one missing.
He waited because he saw the three little dots dancing on the screen, indicating that Anthony was typing a message.
I’d prefer a photo of you
See you soon
Love U
With a blissful smile on his lips and his cheeks slightly flushed, Asa slipped his phone into his pocket. When he looked up, he saw the amused expressions on Nina and Maggie’s faces, but he didn’t care. He was in love and had no desire to hide it.
Suddenly, he saw their expressions change as they looked toward the door.
"Oh no... not him."
"Who?"
"Brown."
Oh no.
Asa didn’t want to see him.
"Damn, I can't stay. Customers are coming in."
With an apologetic smile, Nina walked toward the counter.
"Oh, shit. Uh, sorry, Asa. This really sucks, but I have customers coming in. I promise I’ll come back as soon as they leave."
Asa didn’t turn around, hoping with all his heart that the carpet salesman wouldn’t see him.
He didn’t know why the man had noticed him, since he had been nothing but polite every time they met. The problem was that the salesman had a shop on the same street, so they often ran into each other.
With each encounter, the salesman became more familiar, and Asa disliked it.
"Asa! It’s been a while."
Asa sighed inwardly and looked up at the newcomer, who sat down without asking. He forced a smile and said in a neutral tone, "Good evening, Tim."
The other man moved his chair closer and leaned toward Asa. "It’s nice to see you. I thought maybe you were avoiding me, but I don’t see why. I feel like we get along really well."
In your dreams.
You’re too close.
Asa tried to pull his chair back, but Brown put his hand on Asa’s forearm and leaned in closer.
"Since you're here alone, maybe we could go out to dinner together."
Asa shook his head. "Sorry, Tim, but I’m waiting for someone."
The carpet salesman frowned and replied skeptically. "Oh, really? And who might that be?"
"I think that would be me."
Asa let out a sigh of relief when he recognized Anthony’s voice. Just then, a hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed gently.
"I'd ask you to immediately remove your hand from my partner's arm," Anthony continued in a calm, cold tone.
Brown, looking perplexed, exclaimed, "I beg your pardon?"
Anthony stepped around and stood next to Tim. Still wearing the same smile, he repeated, even more coldly, "Remove your hand from my partner immediately."
The carpet salesman finally seemed to understand and quickly pulled his hand away. He stammered, "His partner... Um... I'm sorry. I'm leaving. Have a good evening."
Anthony watched him go, glaring at him with a murderous look until he disappeared from view. A soft chuckle made him turn to Asa, who shook his head.
The professor raised an eyebrow and asked, "What?"
Asa replied, still smiling. "Oh, nothing. It's nice to have someone watching my back."
Anthony brushed his lover's lips with a light kiss before sitting in the chair Tim had vacated. Asa leaned toward him and whispered, "Actually, you’re pretty hot as a possessive white knight."
He took Asa's hand, kissed his fingertips, and looked at him. "Of course I get possessive when I see someone trying to take what belongs to me," he said softly.
Asa let out a little laugh before bringing his lips close to Anthony’s ear and replying, "For someone to steal me, I'd have to let them. Which isn’t going to happen."
He leaned in closer and whispered, "Since I'm already yours."
"Hey, lovebirds! Are we interrupting?"
Asa and Anthony jumped when they realized that Nina and Maggie had joined them.
"Nina, Maggie, let me introduce you to Anthony. My..."
Nina snickered. "Don't worry. We figured out who he is from the way he shooed Brown away."
"Nina..."
Anthony chuckled back. "No, no, she’s absolutely right." He shook hands with both women, "Nice to meet you."
Nina added with a smirk, "It was amusing to watch him slink away with his tail between his legs. At least he won’t bother you anymore, Asa."
Asa took Anthony’s hand and intertwined their fingers as he replied, "Anyway, he doesn't stand a chance."
They chatted comfortably like this until the two women had to return to work.
As she left, Maggie winked and gave Asa a thumbs-up. Nina simply nodded. It warmed Asa's heart to see that his closest friends accepted his partner.
"They're nice."
Asa nodded. "I really like them. They are very good friends."
"Nina is really funny."
Asa frowned and said in a feigned pout, "Should I be jealous?"
Anthony raised an eyebrow and said, "That's like the pot calling the kettle black. It seems to me that I’m the one who should be jealous since I caught you blatantly being hit on by that mustachioed redhead."
He brought his face close to Asa's and whispered, "If we were at your place, I'd show you who you belong to."
Asa stood up abruptly.
Anthonty wondered if he’d taken the joke too far, but Asa reached out and said in a low voice, "Let's go home, then. I can’t wait for you to show me."
Anthony didn’t need to be told twice. After saying goodbye to Nina and Maggie, they headed for Asa’s apartment, which was closer than Anthony’s.
A few moments later, they walked through the door of Asa’s apartment together. As soon as he closed it, Anthony pulled Asa toward him, pressing him against the hallway wall and kissing him passionately.
Asa immediately returned the kiss with equal passion. He clung to the lapels of Anthony’s coat with his hands, clenching the fabric in his fists, and arched his back to kiss him back. Anthony ran his fingers through Asa’s blond hair, ruffling his neat hairstyle, and pulled his lover’s face closer to deepen the kiss.
Later, when they pulled back slightly to catch their breath, Asa, playful smile on his lips, managed to say, between gasps, "Hmm, I think I'll make you jealous more often if it means getting kissed like that."
Before he could finish, Anthony kissed him again, his hands sliding from his hair to his waist. He pulled Asa so close that not a single millimeter of space remained between them.
When they finally pulled apart, Asa took Anthony’s hands and led him into the living room. They both fell onto the couch, entwined together.
Asa raised his hand and gently caressed Anthony’s lips with his thumb. "You know you have no reason to be jealous," he said softly. "I am yours, body and soul. Whoever could separate us has not yet been born."
Anthony kissed Asa’s thumb before replying softly and sheepishly, "I don't know what came over me. When I walked in and saw him touching you like that... I'm sorry."
Asa shook his head and ran a hand through Anthony’s tousled hair with a gentle smile stretching his lips.
"Don't be. Honestly, I don’t think I would have acted any differently if the roles had been reversed."
Anthony raised an eyebrow. "Hm, you've put a picture in my head. I’d love to see you in possessive mode."
"I wouldn't even try. I can be fierce, too, if anyone touches what belongs to me."
Asa put on a menacing look, but his tousled hair, half-open shirt, and crooked bowtie greatly diminished the effect. Anthony started laughing, and soon Asa joined in.
Then, becoming serious again, Anthony said softly, "So, just in case, know that I am yours too." He pressed a tender kiss to his lover’s lips and continued, "Body and soul."
He wrapped his arms around Asa, who pressed himself against him in return, burying his face in the crook of his neck.
They remained entwined like that for a long time, basking in the knowledge that it was more than playful banter about possessiveness.
It was about belonging.
Because they belonged together.