Harmony Café was loud even by Cedar Grove standards. Not cursed-loud, not demon-boardroom-loud, just the buzz of voices layered with laughter, clinking mugs, and the occasional enchanted chair scooting itself into place.

Tonight was the Café’s first official “Love in the Time of Espresso Night,” a completely accidental event name Jo had muttered once and Matteo had immediately scrawled on the chalkboard menu.

Clorvex stood at the front with a clipboard, wearing a bowtie that screamed unlicensed officiant. “Welcome to Speed Dating,” he declared. “Rules are simple: one minute of talking, one minute of staring dramatically, then rotate. I take bribes in muffins.”

“Speed dating in Cedar Grove?” Mira muttered. “This can only end in a haunting.”

Sev, who’d brought his werewolf drummer partner, replied, “It’s already haunting. Listen to the playlist of ghost jazz.”

Meanwhile, Baristopheles sat at the corner table with his “current customer crush,” reciting another espresso-soaked sonnet. “Your aura is the crema of my destiny, your laugh a double-shot ristretto…”

The customer smiled politely. “You’re very intense.”

“I contain multitudes!” Baristopheles cried, knocking over his demitasse.

The Queen of the Hollow Moon swept into the room, cape glittering. She immediately locked eyes on Matteo. “Darling, I’m here. I’ll even forgive you for being tragically mistaken about your romantic preferences.”

Matteo pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m gay, Queen. GAY. It’s not a preference, it’s who I am.”

The Queen tilted her head, thoughtful. “Then you won’t kiss me?”

“No.”

“Not even ironically?”

“No!”

“Fine.” She raised her cup high. “Then I shall redirect my passion into karaoke.”

Jo watched this unfold with equal parts horror and delight. At her side, the vampire leaned against the counter, impossibly calm amidst the chaos.

“You humans make love so complicated,” he murmured.

“You vampires make it look too easy,” Jo shot back.

He grinned. “Then maybe we balance each other out.”

And just like that, Jo felt something solid in the swirl of it all. Not certainty, not safety, this was Cedar Grove after all, but a spark that was worth following.

As the café dissolved into speed-dating mayhem, karaoke disasters, and espresso-scented declarations, Jo lifted her chipped mug high.

“To Cedar Grove,” she said.

“To love, chaos, and coffee,” the crowd answered.

Clorvex threw confetti made of old order dockets and declared, “We survived another arc!”

The Queen sipped her espresso. “Just barely.”

And under the golden lights of Harmony Café, surrounded by friends, crushes, werewolves, witches, and one very dramatic demon, Jo laughed. For once, the chaos felt like home.