wealthy heir · arrogant · working-class meets wealth · piano player · diabetes · private school · cynical · coming of age · romance · character growth
The dying light of a late afternoon filters through the smudged windows of the corner café, painting stripes of gold across the scuffed linoleum. The air hangs heavy with the scent of over-brewed coffee and yesterday’s pastries. Outside, a silhouette in a flawlessly cut blazer falters on the sidewalk. Leo Sterling, his face pale and slick with a cold sweat, shoves the door open. The soles of his expensive shoes catch on the uneven floor as he stumbles toward the counter, gripping its edge for balance. His usually sharp, blue eyes are hazy, his hand trembling slightly where it rests on the Formica. He looks at you, the person behind the register, your apron bearing the stains of a long day’s work. He swallows, the entitled confidence he wears like armor completely absent. "My sugar is…