CRAVES

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM

The café was already busy when Amelia arrived.

She placed the jasmine beside the register instead of taking it into the back room. Every few minutes, her eyes returned to it.

The little plant looked exactly as it had yesterday.

That made everything worse.

She kept thinking about the note.

He can't protect you.

Who was he?

She hadn't told anyone about Bryan.

Not even Mrs. Alvarez.

Not even the café owner.

The thought made her stomach twist.

She tucked the note into the pocket of her apron and forced herself back into the morning rush.

By ten, the café was full.

By eleven, she'd almost convinced herself that the whole thing had been some strange prank.

Almost.

Then the bell above the door rang.

She looked up.

A man stood outside.

Dark coat.

Black gloves.

Rain hadn't fallen that morning, yet the shoulders of his coat were damp.

Her fingers tightened around the coffee cup she was holding.

She knew him.

Not personally.

But she'd seen him before.

Across the street.

Near the bookstore.

Outside the café.

Always somewhere close.

The cup slipped slightly in her hand.

Before it could fall, another hand caught the bottom.

She looked down.

A familiar silver watch.

Her eyes lifted.

Bryan stood beside her.

For a second, neither moved.

He looked different from the last time she'd seen him.

Darker.

More serious.

His hair was slightly disheveled from the journey, and a faint crease crossed his forehead.

He took the cup from her carefully and placed it on the counter.

Then his gaze moved past her.

Straight toward the man outside.

The stranger had disappeared.

Bryan's jaw tightened.

Amelia followed his gaze.

Nothing.

Only pedestrians moving along the pavement.

She looked back at him.

He was already looking at her.

His eyes moved over her face, her shoulders, her hands.

Checking.

Making sure she was unharmed.

She didn't understand why that small gesture made her chest feel strangely warm.

He reached toward her.

She instinctively stepped back.

His hand stopped.

Something flickered across his face.

He lowered it.

Then his gaze fell to the jasmine beside the register.

He picked up the pot.

One of the leaves had begun to droop.

His thumb carefully straightened the bent stem.

She watched him.

"You found it."

She nodded.

He glanced at the note sticking slightly out of her apron pocket.

His expression changed.

She noticed.

So did he.

Without asking, she pulled it out and handed it to him.

Bryan unfolded it.

His eyes moved across the four words.

The paper crumpled slowly between his fingers.

Not enough to tear it.

Enough to show that whatever he'd been feeling had finally reached the surface.

He looked at her.

"Who gave you this?"

She shook her head.

His gaze remained on her for another moment.

Then he folded the paper neatly and placed it inside his coat.

He picked up the jasmine.

She reached for it.

Their fingers brushed.

Bryan released the pot immediately.

A strange silence settled between them.

She looked away first.

He didn't.

For a moment, the busy café seemed to disappear around them.

Then someone cleared their throat nearby.

Reality returned.

She took the plant and placed it beneath the counter.

Bryan stepped back.

His eyes remained on her.

He looked like he wanted to say something.

Instead, he simply reached for the coffee cup he'd caught earlier and handed it back.

His fingers brushed hers again.

This time, neither pulled away immediately.

Then he let go.

The café door opened.

A customer entered.

Bryan moved aside.

Amelia returned to work.

But the feeling of his hand against hers stayed long after he'd left.

...

He waited outside until closing.

She didn't know.

Every time she looked through the window, the street seemed empty.

Bryan remained across the road, hidden beneath the shadow of a building.

Cassian stood beside him.

"The man has left."

Bryan didn't answer.

"He won't return tonight."

Bryan's gaze remained fixed on the café.

"You're certain?"

Cassian nodded.

Bryan looked toward the second-floor windows of the building opposite.

"He wants her frightened."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"We're still trying to find out."

Bryan's expression hardened.

"Try harder."

Cassian said nothing.

Inside the café, Amelia switched off the last light.

The door locked.

She stepped outside with her bag over one shoulder.

Bryan watched her begin walking home.

He followed.

Not close enough for her to notice.

Not far enough to lose sight of her.

For the first time in a very long time, Bryan found himself walking through a city at night without caring who might see him.

His attention remained fixed on the woman several steps ahead.

She stopped suddenly.

Bryan stopped too.

She turned around.

Their eyes met across the pavement.

For a second, neither moved.

Her expression softened with surprise.

He had expected her to be afraid.

Instead, she smiled.

Small.

Tired.

Almost relieved.

Bryan crossed the distance between them.

He didn't ask why she had stopped.

She didn't ask why he was there.

He simply reached for the bag slipping from her shoulder and took it from her.

She let him.

Then they continued walking.

Side by side.

Neither spoke.

But for the first time since the threats began...

Amelia didn't feel alone.