Page 7

Wiping the last of my tears, I crawl back up on the bed and get under then blankets. My body’s tired, and I don’t have any more tears to cry. There’s a black hole where my heart used to be, destroyed by evil. I just need some good in my life.
My thoughts then drift back to Ryker. He’s going to throw a wrench in my plans of laying low, I just know it. But there’s something else about him, something in those eyes. The jolt I felt when I touched his callused hands. My nerve endings felt every spark from that contact alone. I close my eyes and picture those crystal blue saucers staring at me.
Eventually, I find my sleep.
* * *
The light pours in from the window. I roll over and look at the clock on the nightstand to see that it’s only seven in the morning. As much as I want to sleep, I really need to get up and get started on putting my life back together. I get up and dress, making my way downstairs to see where the nearest coffee shop is.
“Oh! Good morning, Zoey. How did you sleep?” Rose Dawson’s at the stairs when I come down. She owns the place, and she’s a nice older lady who didn’t ask too many questions last night about my appearance even though I know she wanted to. She had a look of concern on her face yesterday, but she just allowed me to be.
I stop at the end of the stairs. “Good. I slept good. Um, is there a coffee shop here?”
“The diner. That’s about all we have. The next town over has one of those chain ones, but it’s a bit of a drive just for coffee, if you ask me.” Rose smiles at me and she clasps her hands in front of her.
“Yeah, no car. So, diner it is. Thanks Rose.” I swing past her and out the door. I throw on my new earbuds and walk down the street and around the corner to the diner.
Today’s a beautiful day, and the atmosphere out here makes it even more beautiful. The sky is the bluest sky I’ve ever seen, and the air smells fresh. I can see the mountains from where I stand, and it’s breathtaking. There’s so much green around me. Trees, grass, bushes. All of this is so surreal. It’s all so calm.
I close my eyes for a moment and take a deep breath. The air is so much different out here. Finally, I feel like I can breathe. Not sure if it’s because of the location I’m in or because I’m out of Mitch’s hands. Maybe a little of both.
Once I get to the diner, I go in and walk over to an open booth. Hopefully, this will be enough to hide me from everyone’s stares.
“Hi there! You must be the new girl in town that everyone’s talking about. My name is Joan, and I own this here diner. Welcome!” She places her hand on the table. “So, what can I get you to drink?” Joan smiles and leans towards me. Well, so much for not being noticed. The whole town already knows about me.
“Hi, Joan. I’m Zoey. I would love a cup of coffee, please.” I place my hands in my lap.
“Absolutely. Here, take a look at the menu and let me know when you’re ready to order, dear.” Joan places her hand on my shoulder, and I recoil and gasp. She immediately pulls back her hand. “Sorry, dear. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
She hesitates and then turns to go get my coffee.
I give her a small smile as she walks away. “It’s okay, just took me by surprise.”
Holding up the menu, I scan it and see if anything pops out at me. I’m so busy looking at the menu that I don’t hear someone sneak up on me and sit at my table.
“So, whatcha thinkin’ of getting?”
“Oh my God!” The menu goes flying across the table, and my hand immediately goes to my heart. It takes all I can gather to just keep from almost jumping out of the booth.
“Nope, just me. But thanks for the compliment.” Ryker sits there and grins at me while I try to gain back my composure.
“What the fuck was that for? Could you not just get my attention by not scaring the shit out of me?” I seethe. My breathing is still fast, and my body is shaking.
“Now where would the fun be in that? Besides, you were studying that menu way too hard. The best breakfast here is the pancakes.” He waves Joan over and orders us both exactly that.
That’s when I realize my coffee is placed in front of me as well. Man, I’m apparently in my own little world. That, or I’m still exhausted. Which I am.
Ryker stares at me, making me really uncomfortable. We sit there silently until he breaks the tension with a question. “Did you know that a chicken farmer's favorite car is a coupe?”
I blink. “Did you just make a joke?”
“Why, yes, I did. And you didn’t even laugh. I’m kind of hurt, Zoey.” He feigns being hurt and places his hand over his heart.
“Well, I’ll laugh when you get better jokes. Preferably ones that don’t sound like really bad dad jokes.”
His eyebrows shoot up, “Dad jokes? Oh, come on. It wasn’t that bad!”
I let out a little chuckle. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that.” I turn to look out the window and watch all the people starting their day here in Weston.