Page 2

"Great," I mutter. "Eight extra hours of watching people make googly eyes at each other."

"That's the spirit!" Julia either misses or ignores my sarcasm. "And don't forget to push the Valentine's special - buy one Love Potion Latte, get a heart-shaped cookie half off. Mark's already baking test batches in the kitchen."

"Your husband's really outdoing himself this year," Becca says.

Julia beams. "Oh, you should see what he's planning for our anniversary. Twenty-three years and he still makes every Valentine's Day magical." She sighs dreamily. "Speaking of which, I need to approve the new heart-shaped cup sleeves. Keep up the good work, girls!"

She disappears into her office, leaving behind a trail of floral perfume and romantic optimism that makes my teeth hurt.

"I might need something stronger than coffee to get through this month," I say, slumping against the counter.

"Vodka in the Love Potion Latte?" Becca suggests.

"Don't tempt me."

The morning rush ebbs, leaving behind sticky counters and the lingering scent of burnt milk. I wipe down the espresso machine, my movements sharp and precise.

"You know what? I'm done." I toss the rag into the sanitizer bucket. "No more dates, no more apps, no more well-meaning setups from married friends who think they know what's best for me."

Becca pauses mid-restock. "Come on, V. You don't mean that."

"I absolutely do." My hands move to my hips. "I'm going to focus on me. Maybe finally finish that art course I started last semester. Or learn to make sourdough bread. Something productive that doesn't end with me crying into a pint of ice cream at midnight."

"But-"

"No buts. From now on, it's just me, myself, and my career goals."

"What about love?"

"What about it? The only thing these dating disasters have taught me is that love is seriously overrated." I gesture at the Valentine's decorations. "All this? It's just marketing. And I'm not buying it anymore."

CHAPTER2

JACK

Ipush open the door to The Love Roast, and I'm immediately assaulted by an explosion of pink and red. Paper hearts dangle from fishing line attached to the ceiling, swaying with the draft from the door. The smell of coffee mingles with something artificially sweet - vanilla and strawberry, perhaps.

"Welcome to The Love Roast!" A barista calls out from behind the counter. Her name tag reads 'Vanessa,' and her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes.

I pull out my phone, pretending to check messages while I observe the café's patrons. Two young women share a heart-shaped cookie, giggling over their phones. An elderly couple holds hands across their table, sharing what appears to be a single drink with two straws.

"Fascinating," I mutter under my breath, making a mental note about human mating rituals and shared sustenance.

"Can I help you?" Vanessa asks, her forced cheerfulness cracking slightly.

"Yes, I'd love to understand the significance of the dual-straw beverage consumption I'm witnessing." I gesture toward the elderly couple.

She blinks. "The... what?"

"The sharing of drinks. Is this a common courtship ritual in your establishment?"

A slight frown crosses her face. "It's just a couple sharing a milkshake. Are you going to order something?"

"Of course. What would you recommend for someone conducting research on human mat- I mean, for someone interested in the full Love Roast experience?"

"Our current special is the Cupid's Arrow Mocha. It comes with heart-shaped marshmallows." She says this like she's reading from a script she's tired of performing.

"Perfect. I'll take one of those. And tell me, do you find that these themed beverages actually enhance romantic connections between your customers?"