The clock's red digits blinked 10:42 a.m. — that stretch of the morning when everyone was halfway between focus and fatigue.
Luca leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head.
The faint pop of his shoulders drew Bella's glance from her laptop.
"I need caffeine," he muttered.
"You and everyone else," Bella said, smiling as she scribbled something on her notepad.
He stood, patting his pockets for his wallet. "I'm going down to the café. Want anything?"
Bella pushed her chair back, gathering her phone. "Actually, I'll go too. The line's shorter when it's two people suffering together."
Across the room, Liam looked up from his spreadsheet. "Get me a black coffee. No sugar."
Camila raised a hand without looking up from her screen. "Make that two — iced for me, please."
Wei Chen spun his pen once between his fingers, smirking. "Green tea latte. Extra shot."
Luca blinked. "That's not tea anymore, that's confusion."
