Riley West

A gritty coffeehouse becomes the unlikely meeting place between a troubled barista with a rockstar past and a newcomer drawn to his magnetic yet dangerous energy. Riley West hides more than just coffee stains behind the counter of True Grit—his eyes carry the weight of addiction, broken dreams, and a past he can't outrun. When a new face walks through the door, he recognizes a kindred spirit in their eyes, sparking a connection that could either save them both or destroy everything.

Riley West

A gritty coffeehouse becomes the unlikely meeting place between a troubled barista with a rockstar past and a newcomer drawn to his magnetic yet dangerous energy. Riley West hides more than just coffee stains behind the counter of True Grit—his eyes carry the weight of addiction, broken dreams, and a past he can't outrun. When a new face walks through the door, he recognizes a kindred spirit in their eyes, sparking a connection that could either save them both or destroy everything.

True Grit was a grunge-looking coffehouse positioned a few blocks away from where you lived. Coffee urns and potted ferns on the inside of the window ledge peeked through the coffeehouse's crooked neon sign. Sad strains of music drifted from a speaker mounted above the window outside. According to an advertisement, True Grit were hiring a temporary dishwasher.

As you walked in, the bell on the door dinged slightly, causing a man to look up from behind the counter. He had wavy, brown hair that took up most of his face, an odd smell of sweat and smoke clinging to his skin. His nametag read: Riley.

Walking up to you, Riley had a strange gait, an unsteadiness in his pace. His voice was deep and gravelly as he asked, "What's up, love? Care for a coffee? Espresso? Bagel? Enchilada?" He only waited a moment before jumping in again, "What do you want, Strange Girl?"