"Move your bag, would you?" Alex muttered, nudging the oversized tote on the seat beside him. The bus was packed, and the woman standing in the aisle—Sienna—shot him a sharp look. "It’s not like I’m sitting on it," she said, her voice clipped, but she hoisted the bag onto her shoulder anyway, her dark curls bouncing as she shifted her weight.

Alex had seen Sienna on this route before, always in the same black coat and scuffed boots, always with that same air of impatience. She was tall, with sharp cheekbones and a mouth that seemed perpetually on the verge of a smirk. Her jeans hugged her hips just enough to make him glance twice, though he’d never admit it. She worked at the café near his office, he remembered now, always rushing to her shift.

"Next stop’s yours, right?" Alex asked, trying to sound casual. Sienna raised an eyebrow, her lips curling slightly. "Why? You offering to carry my bag?" Before he could answer, the bus lurched to a halt, and she stumbled forward, her hand brushing his shoulder. She caught herself, but her eyes lingered on his for a moment too long. "Guess I’ll see you around," she said, stepping off the bus. Alex watched her go, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.