Lizardfolk Boyfriend: Rian (special preview)

The mornings now have new meaning to you. Once before they were this sluggish, slow paced sort of thing fueled by coffee and a quick breakfast burrito. Now, there was a rush to them, but it wasn’t a terrifying one. Your mornings now had you up much earlier than you had ever been. You get ready for your day and leave, knowing coffee and breakfast will be waiting for you when you arrive. You doze on the bus sometimes, but often you keep yourself alert.

Even at the bus stop near your job, you can smell it. That fragrant, comfy scent of fresh bread wafts through the whole street. The hole in the wall bakery has been your job the last few months. You were swiped up because the owner was impressed with your skills at the chain coffee place. He’d been wanting to start serving more than drip coffee for ages, he just needed the right person to serve it.

“Good morning, Rian!” You announce yourself after coming in through the backdoor. The only other employee is the baker, who gets so swept up in his work, he gets scared easily when you come in unannounced.

“Good morning!” Rian sings back. “Your pastry is at the front.”

You beam, wondering what Rian has made today. “Thank you.” You go up to the front to get everything going, swiping up your breakfast as you go. You see fresh strawberries and cream wrapped in a cone of delicate flaky crust. “Oh, god bless you Rian!” You whisper under your breath then take a big bite.

You turn on half the lights and start putting chairs back on the floor. You turn on the equipment behind the counter and start grinding the coffee beans. People are already at the door waiting, but it’ll be a bit before your doors open at six.

“How’s it going back here?” You go to fetch trays to set inside the glass display. Rian has them all lined out on the table.

“Same as it ever was.” Rian’s scales are covered in flour and bits of dough. He’s been here baking probably since three in the morning. “How was breakfast.”

“I’m starting to think you can read my mind from blocks away,” you chuckle.

Rian wipes off his face and smiles. “It’s not hard to tell you like strawberries.” His scales are a blueish gray, looking more gray with all the flour buildup. “What will be the special coffee of the day?”

You take out the little notebook in your bag. “I had a couple of ideas last night.”

Rian’s smile perks at the corners. “Didn’t we just have that meeting with the boss about not taking work home with us?”

You clutch your notebook preciously to your chest. “I like being prepared and memorizing what I have to say to customers. Not all of us can be witty and charming like you.”

Rian’s silver eyes widen. “Oh! So you think I’m charming?”

Your cheeks become heated. “Well sure, in a sort of...you know, not anxiety ridden sort of way like me.”

He suppresses what you're certain would be a big guffaw. “You seem pretty charming yourself once you get used to someone.”

“That’s just life.” You pick up a tray of baked goods. “I’d wax on about this, but I’m pretty sure the early morning masses will be beating down the door soon.”

“And the boss said we’d be replacing the glass next time it broke,” he teases.

You go up front, filling the glass case to the brim with all the baked goods. People were knocking and trying to pull the door open, but you still have fifteen minutes before opening. You decorated the sign to feature your drink of the day.

Once you do open the shop it’s a mad rush, it always is first thing until about nine. After that, it calms down and you can clean before the next rush. Rian comes out with new baked goods and you hand him his coffee.

“Thanks,” he sighs and leans against the counter. “Are you alright?” He asks.

You shrug. “Everything goes so fast I don’t really have time to worry about being anxious.” You rub at your neck then roll your shoulder a bit. “At least there are some good tips today.”

Rian glances over to the tip jar. “I bet there is at least one of those fake twenty dollar bills with the bible verse on them. I’ll bet you an actual twenty.”

“No need to go that far on something we both know is true.” You yawn and stretch, glancing out the window at the beautiful morning, although to you it feels like it could be noon. “Just gotta make it to one now.”

“You can request to not work every morning,” Rian says.

“I like it now. What’s the use in changing? Besides, I’d have to get used to someone else. I already know you,” you giggle.

Rian smiles. “Aww shucks, you like me. You really like me.”