Page 6 of The Finder

Amy nodded. “Thank you. We’re in room 221.”

Emma stood to her feet. “Room 221. Got it. Thanks for my lesson,” she said to Olivia. She smiled at Amy and waved at Olivia. Olivia waved back.

On the way to her room, Emma decided to detour to the bathroom, looking to see if the showers were free. She assumed this would be a good time to slip in and get a shower while everyone was still at dinner. Confirming it was empty, she hurried to her room to get her belongings. She entered the room quietly so as not to disturb her roommate. Her eyes flicked to the girl. Her eyes were still closed with her headphones on. Emma wasn’t sure if she was sleeping or not. She grabbed her toiletries bag and underclothes and the only other set of clothes she had. She needed to find the washing machine and wash the few clothes she had. For now, she would just put back on the leggings and cat shirt from today, sleep in it tonight, and put on clean clothes tomorrow.

After her shower, Emma tracked down the washing machine and washed her clothes. When they were dry, she folded the outfit she arrived in and the t-shirt and leggings she had been given when she first arrived here. Along with the leggings and the ugly cat shirt she was wearing now, that was all she had. She just had to make do until she could get paid and get to a thrift store to get a few pieces. Helen hadn’t told her how often she would get paid; she was really hoping it was weekly.

Emma settled into her room for the night. Because of her early mornings, she wanted to get to sleep at a good time. Her roommate was gone when she got back to the room. Emma prepared for bed and fiddled with the alarm clock until she was sure it was set for four a.m. Then she lay down on her bed. Sleep found her quickly.

Emma opened her eyes to the sound of her alarm going off. She quickly silenced it before it could wake her roommate. She lay still a moment, letting her eyes adjust before climbing out of bed. She hadn’t planned on taking another shower, but she decided on it so she could wake up. She gathered her stuff and headed to the showers.

After a hot shower, she was feeling more human. She moved over to the mirror. She brushed out her hair, wishing—not for the first time—that she had a straightener. She had to just make the best of what she had. She put her hair in a high ponytail, so it would stay out of her way while she served coffee. She finished getting ready. She was wearing her usual black leggings and the black t-shirt she had arrived here in. She glanced at herself one last time in the mirror before heading back to her room.

After making her bed and putting her things away, she glanced at the clock. 4:35. Time to get going. She left her room, quietly shutting the door behind her. She made her way through the silent house and almost to the front door when she remembered to grab a lunch bag. She made her way to the dining area but was disappointed to see there were no bags available, nor was anyone in the kitchen. She would just have to go without lunch, again. She could make it until dinner; she had done it yesterday.

She left Hope House and made her way towards the coffee shop. Around fifteen minutes later, she made it. She was cold by the time she got there. She was ready to get into the warm coffee shop. Helen was already there and let her in as soon as she knocked. She shivered as she came in and took a deep breath and smiled. The smell was so welcoming. “Good morning,” Helen said.

“Good morning,” Emma said. She walked behind the counter, grabbed an apron, and got to work. As if they had been working together for years, they fell into companionable silence as they worked. Soon it was opening time. A few minutes after opening, the first customer came in.

“Good morning, welcome to Sip and Drip,” Emma called out, just as Helen had instructed her to. And they were off. Customers trickled in over the next few hours. Emma stayed busy taking orders and practicing her drink-making skills. Things slowed down pretty heavily around ten. Emma walked out into the sitting area and wiped down tables. She had her back to the door when it opened with a jingle. “Welcome to Sip and Drip,” she called out over her shoulder. When she turned around, she saw the good-looking man from yesterday.

“Cat girl,” he called out with a smile. Emma cringed inwardly but managed to keep a smile on her face. She walked behind the counter as he approached.

“What can I get for you?” she asked with a smile.

“I’m Liam,” he said and stuck out his hand with a huge smile. Emma stared at him for just a moment. “This is where you shake my hand and tell me your name, beautiful,” Liam said.

“Liam, leave the poor girl alone,” she heard Helen say.

Emma felt her cheeks blushing, but she put her hand out and tried to portray confidence. “I’m Emma,” she said, softer than she wanted to. The moment he took her hand in his, a bright light flickered in front of her, startling her so much she dropped his hand. Her eyes shot to his. He was looking down at her, frowning. She had no idea what to say. She decided to try to be professional. “What can I get for you today?” she asked, her voice steadier than she thought it would be.

He was still looking at her oddly but seemed to recover and ordered the dark roast with a little cream and no sweetener. Emma turned to go make the coffee. She could feel his eyes on her as she made his order. When she returned to give him his drink, she was very careful not to touch his hand as she passed it off.

“Thank you,” he said with a smile. Whatever had passed between them was behind them now. “I’ll be seeing you,” he said. “Thanks for the coffee. Bye, Emma. Bye, Helen,” he called out and turned and walked out of the shop, leaving Emma staring after him in confusion.

What was that?she wondered to herself. She didn’t have time to think about it because a few more customers came in. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something odd had happened and she didn’t think that was going to be the end of it.

Chapter 6

Emma took her usual break and went to the library. Her stomach started growling when she walked back to work. She pushed her hunger away, knowing she could eat dinner tonight at the house. She got back to the shop and grabbed her apron and got right back to work.

When it slowed down in the afternoon, she spent some time cleaning the shop while Helen grabbed supplies from the back room. Emma heard the bell jingle just as she finished and settled behind the counter. “Welcome to Sip and Drip,” she called out as she dropped her rag in the sink.

“Hey cat girl,” she heard from behind her. Without turning around, she knew Liam was back. She took a deep breath and turned around. She was startled to see that he wasn’t alone this time. Emma caught her breath as a man followed Liam into the shop. She noticed a third man had entered as well and stayed at the door, but she could only focus on the man in front of her. She stared at the man. He was by far the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. He oozed raw masculinity. He was incredibly tall and gorgeous with black hair, and dark facial hair. He was wearing a suit that Emma would guess cost more than anything she had ever seen at a normal store. Her eyes trailed up his incredibly built body and landed on his eyes. The moment she met his eyes, it felt like the world froze. He had the darkest eyes; she felt lost in them. In that instant, something happened. His eyes lost some of their darkness and began to change color. Emma unknowingly took a step back in fear.What’s happening?

Suddenly, her view of the gorgeous man was blocked when Liam stepped in front of him and practically shoved him towards the door. They both left the store without a word, and Emma was left staring after them in confusion. She greedily sucked in air. She felt like she hadn’t breathed since that man had stepped into the shop.

Emma watched the door. The door opened again, and Liam stepped inside once again. Emma’s eyes shot to the door, but nobody followed Liam in. He strode confidently up to the counter. “Sorry about that. My boss had to take a call,” he said smoothly. “I need three large dark roasts. Cream in just one of them,” he said as if everything was completely normal.

Emma wanted to ask about what she had seen but couldn’t find the courage to. “Sure,” she said as she rang him up. He paid for the coffees and Emma went to make them. She noticed that Helen was in the back office on the phone. Emma wondered if she had missed the whole scene altogether. She handed the coffees to Liam, careful once again to not touch his hands.

“Thanks,” he said with an easy smile.

“You’re welcome. Have a good one,” she said trying to keep her voice steady.

A couple came into the store and Emma was grateful for the distraction. She quickly took their order and made their drinks. After she passed them off, she turned around to see two police officers waiting for her. She swallowed nervously. She forced a smile. “Welcome to Sip and Drip. What can I get for you?”

The first police officer, the older of the two, place his order. Then the second one stepped forward. “You’re new here,” he said. Emma looked up at him and realized he was younger than she had first assumed. She pegged him to be maybe a few years older than herself. He was smiling at her, but she still felt terrified, terrified they would know just by looking at her that she was on the run.

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