Page 5 of Begin Again

He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Small towns. Word travels fast. You’re also wearing a shirt with the cafe logo on it.”

I exhale, forcing myself to relax. Maybe I’m being paranoid. Maybe the last week has just made me overly cautious. But still… there’s a wrongness about him feels off.

He looks like he’s about to say more but he shifts his weight as he’s about to leave, “Well Theo, thanks for the directions. I’ll see you around.”

“See you, man,” I say as he walks away. I study his retreating figure for a moment longer before turning away. His words don’t sit right with me, and it isn’t until he is out of sight that I realize I never gave him my name.

A slow, cold unease creeps down my spine.

Who the fuck is Bennett and how does he know my name? He looks familiar, but I don’t think I’ve met him before.

The trail feels quieter now, my thoughts are anything but. I can’t shake the feeling that Bennett’s appearance isn’t just random. The path ahead stretches endlessly before me, the trees standing still, the breeze whispering through the leaves. I take a breath, trying to shake it off, but the unease lingers.

3

Selene

The crisp mountain air fills my lungs, my thoughts lingering on the high of finishing up another project. Yesterday marked the culmination of a week of painstaking work–hours spent poring over sketches, tweaking colors, and chasing those elusive moments when everything finally clicked into place. Sending the final designs off felt like reaching the summit of a mountain, and I’m still riding the rush.

Umbra just finished recording their fourth studio album and I am lucky enough to be one of the first to hear it. When I arrived home after my embarrassing run-in with Theo a week ago, I found a package waiting on my doorstep. I hadn’t expected it so soon—it was almost like they knew exactly when I’d need the distraction.

Inside was a notebook filled with scribbles of lyrics and little sketches, along with three CDs. The first CD contained their upcoming album, the second held potential bonus tracks, and the third contained imagery I could incorporate in the artwork for the album of the new concepts for their face veils and elaborate costume designs.

I am practically skipping into town, so caught up in the high of finishing all the designs and getting them sent off for approval that I nearly plow right into Aubrey as she comes darting out of Bear and Brew. Aubrey is a vision of effortless charm, her flowing brown hair catches the light as it spills past her shoulders. There’s a warmth to her, from the sun-kissed glow of her skin to the deep laugh lines that frame her ever-present smile. As always, she’s dressed with an elegant ease. She looks stunning in a jacket over a breezy blouse, perfectly paired slacks, and shoes that look both expensive and comfortable. The scent of cinnamon and a hint of florals clings to her like an expensive perfume layered over the remnants of time spent in her garden.

Everything about her is intoxicatingly alive, from the way she moves to the way she commands attention without even trying. Aubrey makes the world seem brighter, like she exists in her own little orbit and the rest of us are just lucky to drift through it.

She is the sun, and she knows it.

“Ah, Sweetheart,” Aubrey says with a dazzling smile as she reaches up to grab my shoulders. Her touch is light but firm, it’s grounding in a way that makes it clear she’s used to pulling people into her gravity. “How are you doing? I haven’t seen you in forever, I got so worried I almost called my Morgan to go look for you! Come, let’s grab a drink and catch up, I have so much to tell you.”

She doesn’t wait for a response, not that she ever does. Aubrey is a whirlwind, and trying to resist her pull is like standing in the way of a tidal wave. There’s an ease about her, an almost intoxicating confidence. Her energy crackles in the air, making it impossible not to be swept along.

Before I know it, she’s dragging me into the coffee shop she just exited, her words tumbling out in rapid succession. The door swings shut behind us, and the world outside seems to fade under the sheer force of her presence.

She practically shoves me into the booth closest to the register, and without even asking what I want she marches behind the counter like she owns the place, which I guess in a way she does. “What do you like when it comes to coffee? Do you prefer sweet or savory? Never mind—I’m whipping up a drink I’ve been perfecting. Hot or iced?”

“Iced.” I chuckle. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of a blizzard; I will always pick iced.”

“Excellent choice,” she says with a wink and another beautiful grin. “You strike me as someone who likes a little edge to their drinks—bold but smooth.”

She has this way of making everyone feel special like they’re the most interesting person in the room. It’s part of what makes her so impossible to resist.

Then again, with my past, I’ve always known better than to get too close.

There’s always something beneath the surface with her, an unreadable depth behind her bright smiles. It’s in the way her eyes linger just a second too long like she’s catching things she won’t put into words.

Maybe that’s why I like her so much. No matter what she’s been through in the past, she is still a ray of sunshine.

Aubrey’s energy is contagious, but it’s also exhausting. If I’m going to survive this catch-up session, I might as well get comfortable. I settle into the booth tucking one foot under my thigh. It’s a habit I’ve had since I was a kid—like creating a little sanctuary in whatever space I’m in.

As I watch her move behind the counter, effortlessly commanding the space, I take in the shop around me. It’s warm and inviting, the kind of place that smells like roasted beans and fresh pastries, with soft music playing in the background. The town itself still feels new to me, like a puzzle I haven’t quite put together yet, but there’s quality to it—especially the people—that makes me feel like I’m supposed to be here.

She brings over what looks like an iced latte and delicious-smelling chocolate muffins. Aubrey slides a cup across the counter with a flourish. “Here you go, Darling. My latest creation. Tell me how amazing it is.”

A rich flavor I can’t quite place explodes on my tongue as I sip on the latte. I’m usually a simple caramel person but this is completely unexpected and I love it. I look over at her to tell her and a smile takes over her face and her eyes crinkle.

“This is amazing!” I exclaim, looking up at her.

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