Page 30 of Begin Again

Orion rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue.

Then, just as we’re passing the bookstore, I spot Cassie.

Cassie Moros is in her mid-forties, with an easy smile and kind eyes. As an elementary school teacher, she has a presence that makes kids naturally gravitate toward her. When she sees me, her face lights up. I try to school my expression to seem welcoming, but after my talk with Aubrey, I feel a lot more cautious around her.

“Selene,” she says warmly, stepping closer. Her gaze shifts to Orion, and I see the same curiosity flicker across her face.

“Hey, Cassie.”

She starts walking towards me, then hesitates, glancing at Orion.

“My brother, Orion,” I say, gesturing toward him. “Orion, this is Cassie. She’s an elementary school teacher.”

Cassie offers a small smile. “Nice to meet you.”

Orion nods in return, but his attention is already on me, waiting for Cassie to get to the point.

Cassie sighs and shifts her bag. “I wanted to ask you about Theo.”

I blink. “Theo?”

She nods, her expression tightening. “I was at the cafe the other day, and I noticed something strange.”

A thread of unease winds through me. “What do you mean?”

Cassie lowers her voice slightly, glancing around like she doesn’t want to be overheard. “There was a guy there. He came in, went straight to Theo, and they had this real quick, hushed conversation. I don’t know what was said, but the moment Theo saw him, something changed. He got tense. You know how he tries to play things off, but I could tell—whatever that guy said, it rattled him.”

Orion folds his arms. “What can you tell us about the guy?”

Cassie frowns like she’s trying to find the right words. “He’s been around town a lot lately. Rides a motorcycle. Tall, maybe late twenties, early thirties,” Cassie continues. “Dark hair, a little wavy, like he just rolled out of bed and didn’t bother fixing it. Got that rugged, seen-some-things look about him. Looks like a guy who’s been on the road his whole life.”

A weird feeling creeps up my spine. I already know exactly who she’s talking about.

“His name’s Bennett,” I say, watching Cassie’s reaction.

Her brows lift. “You know him?”

I nod. “I’ve run into him once or twice.”

“I don’t know what he’s doing here, but I don’t buy what he’s been telling people.”

My stomach twists. “Which is?”

Cassie glances around again, then back at me. “He’s been saying he’s a writer. That he’s working on a travel piece about small-town culture. But I don’t think he’s telling the truth.”

Orion and I exchange a look.

Cassie points a finger at me. “Don’t look at each other like that. You forget I teach fifth graders and I’ve been teaching for twenty years now. I know when someone is lying to me. Just… be careful. Try to keep your distance.”

I don’t answer, but I don’t argue, either.

Cassie exhales, rubbing her temple. “And with everything going on, I just—I don’t know. I got a bad feeling about it.”

I swallow. “What do you mean? What’s going on?”

Cassie’s face tightens. “Gabriel.”

My chest aches at the mention of Theo’s uncle. “What about him?”