Page 71 of Lunar Crest University

I falter again but push my cheeks up anyway. “Um, I like an iced macchiato, and the blueberry muffins are really good too.”

“I’ll take both.”

He smiles down at me, and it’s the most sinister thing I’ve ever seen. He has silver caps on some of his teeth, and as wide as his grin is, his eyes are empty. Dark. Like a predator looking at its prey. My stomach churns as I nod calmly, ringing his order up on the register.

“That’ll be eight-seventy-six,” I say as steadily as I can, but there’s a vocal fry to my voice that usually isn’t there. I hope he doesn’t take notice.

It’s eerily quiet as he hands me cash, and I process the transaction meticulously—trying so hard to keep my hands from shaking because I don’t want him to see the panic building inside every nerve ending in my body.

“Not very busy tonight,” he comments once my back is turned as I start to make his coffee and pull the muffin from the warmers.

I hum, but it’s almost a squeak. “Yeah, it’s usually pretty dead on Sunday nights. Everyone is out doing other things, I suppose.”

Why did I just say that?

Why in the hell would I just give him that kind of information? My nostrils flare as I try to regulate the breaths coming from my lungs. I turn to place the coffee and muffin onthe counter in front of him, careful not to look him directly in the eye as I feel his stare burning into me.

“Thank you,” he says, looking down at my nametag. “Finley.”

“Of course.” I swallow thickly. “Have a good night…”

“Javier.”

My lips twitch with another fake, friendly smile. “Javier.”

“You too.” He picks up his coffee and muffin as he nods his head at me, another odd smile dancing along his lips. “I’ll see you around.”

I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until it bursts from my lips as he finally leaves. Chest heaving, I place my hands on the counter for leverage as I shudder with another round of goosebumps. A few moments pass before I’m able to make my feet move from their frozen spot against the floor, hurrying over toward the door and locking it quickly. Closing time isn’t for another ten minutes, but I don’t care. I’ve had enough for the night.

As I remove my phone from my pocket, my fingers shake as I text Luca.

Me

You’re still picking me up tonight, right?

Luca

Yes. Are you okay?

Me

I didn’t see you outside, just wanted to make sure.

Luca

Look again.

My head lifts to peek outside once more, and my shoulders sag in relief to see Luca’s car parked on the curb directly in frontof the door. It’s too dark out to see through his tinted windows, but I raise my hand to send him a little wave anyway as my phone lights up with another message.

Luca

You never answered my question.

Me

Sorry. Yes, I’m okay.

Luca

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