EVA

IF THE SMELL OF FRESHLY-BREWED COFFEE was heaven, Ambrosia's Brew must have been home to God himself. Wedged between her apartment and the library, the coffee house occupied the perfect spot for Eva's caffeine fix first thing in the morning or after a long shift slinging books.

Tuesday morning, as the sun began to wash the Earth in sleepy light, that was exactly where she found herself.

She'd walked by the business many times since the break-in, but its battered appearance still caught her off guard. The display window had yet to be replaced, instead having donned wooden boards and a thick sheet of plastic to conceal where the glass had been obliterated. Its messy state plagued Eva's heart with heaviness, though the steady stream of patrons entering and exiting brought a smile to her lips.

Her expression brightened when she stepped inside to find a line at the register and every table filled. Excited chatter buzzed through the air, adding to the soothing atmosphere that her creativity thrived upon.

Usually, at that early hour, Eva would have muttered under her breath in annoyance at the line separating her from caffeinated delight, but that day was different.

Instead, the crowd swelled her heart with pride for Bobbi, who zipped around behind the front counter to fill the ever-increasing orders. By the time Eva approached as the final customer of the morning rush, Bobbi had leaned against the granite counter to catch her breath.

"Not too shabby for your first day back," Eva said.

Bobbi laughed while she drummed her fingers against the register. "I knew customers were waiting for us to reopen, but I didn't expect this." She pushed herself back into a standing position and stretched out her back. "Your usual?"

Eva nodded, and her friend wasted no time hollering to the kitchen for a breakfast wrap and an extra large pumpkin spice latte. Holding back a laugh, Eva reached for the zipper on her purse.

"Oh no," Bobbi said, curls bouncing back and forth with the shake of her head. "Game Masters eat free."

Eva's hand hovered above her purse, but a stubborn glare from across the counter forced her to relax her arms for the time being. She would leave a hefty sum in the tip jar the next chance she got.

"Where's your little shadow?" Bobbi asked. "Haven't seen much of him lately."

Eva's shoulders sagged. "Jensen's called off the last couple days."

"Any idea why?"

"Sick, I guess. It's not like him."

A pained smile crossed Eva's lips as worry lines creased her friend's forehead. She knew by the concern in Bobbi's eyes that they were thinking the same thing: the library had seen enough staff turnover before Jensen came along. The last thing Mrs. Prescott wanted was to put out another job advertisement.

"I hope he's all right." Bobbi tried to mask her expression by adding an extra bounce to her words. "Between the two of you, you keep this place afloat."

Eva turned to survey the coffee shop, buzzing with patrons in every seat. When she swiveled her head back to the counter, Bobbi fought a shit-eating grin.

"I doubt it's only us," Eva teased. "Either way, Jensen hasn't said anything about not coming in today... but if he doesn't show up, we'll give him another call after closing."

The swinging kitchen doors burst open. A short woman with a glittering smile and eyes so green they put the emerald city to shame stepped up to the counter with Eva's order in hand. As the barista pushed the coffee and to-go bag across the counter, strands of chocolate and crimson-highlighted hair fell from her bun, grazing her shoulders until she tucked them back behind her ear.

"Thanks, Iris," Eva said.

As Iris nodded and pivoted back to the kitchen, Eva couldn't help but notice the way her eyes sparkled when they met Bobbi's. They shared bashful smiles before the shorter woman pushed through the swinging doors once again.

Bobbi turned back to Eva, and upon noticing the mischievous glint in the young woman's eyes, widened her sheepish grin.

Eva longed to call her out after their discussion about her own love interests. Instead, she spared herself the embarrassment of having the conversation turned in an unfavorable direction and jerked her thumb toward the boarded up front window.

"So... a mountain lion attack?" Eva picked up her breakfast. "In Pennsylvania? Seriously?"

"That's what the police told me."

Bobbi glanced back at the kitchen door before removing her argyle apron and stepping out from behind the counter. After motioning for Eva to follow, they strolled down the length of the shop, careful to keep their voices hushed under the diners' chatter.

Eva nudged her friend with her elbow. "They do realize Eastern cougars are extinct, right?"

"Who the hell knows?" Bobbi draped the apron over her arm. "But I'll tell you one thing: even when I lived in Colorado, I'd never heard of a mountain lion roaming that far into town, let alone maul some poor soul on the street, smash up a storefront, and drag the body inside."

The thought made Eva's stomach twist. Unwrapping her breakfast no longer seemed appealing.

They stopped beside the picture window, where the storefront felt much darker without sunlight beating down upon them. It was almost fitting, as if the business itself mourned the loss of the dismembered young man found in a pool of blood not far from where they stood. That section of the floor had since been covered with a mocha-colored throw rug, and Eva couldn't stomach the thought of why it was put there.

Bobbi's sigh brought her back to reality. As she pulled up the photo gallery on her phone, Eva leaned closer.

"And what I really don't understand," Bobbi said, "is what kind of mountain lion would leave this behind."

Eva didn't think her stomach could constrict into tighter knots until the video made her feel like she'd swallowed a boa.

The clip was short, no more than twenty seconds. A circle of black goop bubbled on the wooden floorboards, with a gelatinous, dark gray mound in its center. Bobbi's hand came into view, using an extra-long plastic straw to flip the gunk upside down. It flopped like rubber and wiggled as more goo oozed from underneath.

It was enough to make Eva consider tossing her wrap and coffee into the nearest trash can.

However, something about it almost seemed... familiar. She stared at the clip, willing her brain to recall where she would have seen something so—

"Gross, right?"

Eva only nodded, baffled by the looping video. While she had never been under a spell, her current state was the closest she'd ever come. Something deep inside forced her to train her eyes on the subject. Everything else became white noise in the background; even the scent of roasted coffee was almost nonexistent.

It took Bobbi yanking the phone away to snap Eva back to reality. She nearly stumbled backward as the swell of life flooded her senses. Clanging entrance bells and Bobbi's boisterous greeting pierced her eardrums, making her wince at the harsh adjustment. Even the light streaming from the glass front door made her eyes water while Bobbi closed it behind a tall man.

"You okay, Eva?"

That voice. Oh, sweet lord...

"Jensen." Eva rubbed her sleeve across her watering eyes. "I'm fine. Really."

The concern plaguing his face proved he didn't believe her. Jensen flicked his gaze between the two women, clutching the strap of his leather book bag.

Eva cleared her throat. "How are you feeling? You've had us worried."

Jensen shoved his hands into his pockets. Dark circles hung below his eyes, and his complexion still seemed pale, but his infectious smile lit the room regardless.

"Much better," he said. "Not really sure what was going on, but I'm back."

"Searching for your caffeine fix, I hope?" teased Bobbi. She nudged him with her elbow, edging him further inside the coffee shop. Spinning on her heel, she sauntered to the front counter and tied the apron back around her waist.

Jensen's eyes lingered on Eva. Unwelcome warmth returned to her face, which she tried to hide behind a swig of her latte.

For a moment, the uncertainty creasing his forehead told her he was going to question her well-being again, but she couldn't help but feel like the health suspicion should have been the other way around. While he painted his demeanor in cheer, the occasional sniffle gave him away.

"You don't seem to be in a rush today," Jensen said. "Wanna wait up for me? We can walk the last few blocks together."

It took Eva a moment to register his words, but she passed him a stunned smile nonetheless.

"That would be lovely."

__________