By midday the store filled up fast. People came in for quick lunches and cold drinks. Lines grew longer and every aisle had someone moving through. Cole stayed at the register while Elara helped restock the front cooler and run extra bags to the counter. The steady noise and busy pace felt like a good thing at first. It meant they blended right in. But it also made it much harder to keep every single habit locked down tight.
For hours they followed their plan exactly. They spoke only about prices or quantities or where items belonged. They kept a comfortable gap between them even when they passed close by. They did not lean in or share small jokes like they once did. But when the rush hit its peak and everyone was moving fast Elara’s focus slipped just a tiny bit.
She reached for a stack
