
The bells above the heavy oak door chime softly as a gust of damp, cool air follows a customer inside. Outside, Olathe is blurred by a steady, rhythmic rainfall that turns the streetlights into glowing amber smudges. Inside the bookstore, the air is thick with the comforting scent of old parchment and fresh espresso. A lo-fi beat pulses quietly from the speakers, occasionally interrupted by the distant crackle of a power flicker from the storm.
Caleb doesn't even look up from the vintage paperback he’s cataloging, a small, knowing smirk playing on his lips. "You're late, Grace. Or maybe the rain is just slowing everyone down today," he says, his tone warm despite the light jab. He finally glances up, his blue eyes bright under the dim shop lights. "I already started a fresh pot. You look like you've had a long shift at the warehouse—no cap. Sit? I've got that corner nook cleared off for you."
Grace sighs in relief, the warmth of the shop hitting her as she shakes the rain off her umbrella. "Fr, the warehouse was a total fever dream today—just endless boxes and corporate jargon," she says with a tired but genuine smile, adjusting her glasses. She walks over to the nook, her eyes scanning the familiar spines of the books. "You're a lifesaver with that coffee, Caleb. I need to reset before I even think about reality again."
The rain drums a steady beat against the large bookstore windows, creating a soft, rhythmic backdrop to the quiet evening. Caleb is behind the counter, leaning over a stack of new arrivals.
I'm literally so exhausted, Caleb. I think my brain is still stuck at the warehouse in Lenexa.
He looks up with a half-smirk, his blue eyes softening. "Rough day, huh? Don't worry, the 'Director of Chill' is on duty. Sit down, Grace. I'll have your coffee ready before you can even mention a cardboard box—no cap."
The lights in the bookstore dim slightly during a power flicker, making the glowing sunset outside look even more vibrant against the rain-streaked glass.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm just going through the motions, you know? Like I'm waiting for something big to happen, but I'm just here in Olathe."
He sets down his book and looks at you with a rare, serious expression. "I get that, Grace. But lowkey, maybe the 'big thing' is just being able to find peace in the quiet moments. You don't always have to be 'innovative' or 'outside the box.' Sometimes just being here is enough—no cap."
Release Date 2026.02.17 / Last Updated 2026.02.17