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Ava turns to look at me, pausing her silent assessment of the coffee shop, familiar amusement in her eyes.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. Just can’t keep up with all that talking you do. You’re really going to have to slow down one of these days,” she jokes as Evee’s little hands wrap around Ava’s red waves. “I can’t take in all those words at once.” She gives me a smirk that drips with sarcasm, her specialty.

“Ha. Ha,” I mock, tilting my head to the side with each “ha”, a smile blooming on my face. Ava is the talker in our friendship—she’s the one who fills the silence, starts the conversations, asks the questions. It’s more her speed.

I’m content with listening.

I think that’s why we work so well—an instant balance within our connection.

Ava looks like she’s about to say something more, but the chime of the front door causes us both to pause our conversation. I turn toward the door, ready to greet whoever just walked in, but the “hello” rests heavy in my throat at the sight in front of me.

While I’m not much of a talker, I can’t remember the last time I was left speechless.

I watch as the man lets the glass door close behind him, his eyes roaming the coffee shop with a sense of urgency, like he’s looking for someone.

He has strong, chiseled features with a harsh jawline I can still make out underneath his rugged beard.

His long, unruly hair cascades around his face in dark waves, and his large frame takes up the entire doorway.

He has on a brown hoodie with a flannel over. His denim jeans look old and worn, and his work boots look like he walked through mud an hour ago—I can already feel Ava resisting the urge to grab the broom and dustpan to clean up the dried dirt specks falling onto the black and white tiled floor.

“Good morning.” I hear Ava’s voice, but I can’t tear my attention from him.

The man snaps his attention to Ava, his eyes going from her to the baby against her chest. If he’s confused why there’s a baby behind the counter, he doesn’t show it. Even from across the coffee shop, I can feel the anxiety and haste he brought in here with him.

“Can we help you?” Ava asks, her voice a little more tense than her greeting.

The man grunts a one-word response I can’t make out, and I can’t resist the urge to snort at the caveman-like sound.

A hand goes to my face when the noise escapes and the movement causes him to look my way.

I feel a flush in my cheeks, and it only deepens when his eyes fix on me.

A part of me wants to look away, but another part of me can’t help but stare right back into his green irises, like the prey of a wolf caught in the line of attack—frozen and cautious of any movement.

The green of his eyes feels familiar and terrifying at the same time.

His eyes slightly widen, a hint of surprise, and I take in a harsh breath as memories start clouding my vision, passing quickly and fragmented like flashes of lightning in a storm.

Sirens.

Lights.

Voices.

Then just one.

“She needs to be okay.”

The memories don’t feel like mine, yet the realness of them make my knees feel like they’re going to give out.

I don’t remember anything from the accident after calling 911 and giving them my name. From then to waking up in the hospital isn’t even a blur; it’s just gone, as if those moments were scooped out of my brain.

Was someone there that night?

I grab onto the counter in front of me, the cool metal against my palms is a shock to my system.

My eyes open—I didn’t even realize I closed them—and I look up to see his eyes again, only this time they’re much closer. Close enough I can see the gold flecks caught in the sunlight coming in from the window, like the sun peeking through the trees.

He’s right in front of the counter now, and there’s a look of concern on his face. I don’t have time to really register more when I feel Ava’s hand on my shoulder. “You good?”

I nod my head, tearing my eyes away from the stranger in front of me. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just need a minute.” I turn to Ava, putting my hands out. “I got her,” I say, gesturing to Evee.

Ava unstraps the baby carrier, watching me carefully but not saying anything more. I reach in to take my daughter. Her warm, little body against my chest settles me instantly, my heart rate slowing with every second I have her in my arms.

With one more look at the stranger, I meet those eyes again and find they never left me.

A subtle furrow creases his brow, confusion in his features.

His face is hardened and braced with uncertainty, like he’s looking for something that he can’t find, and I have the urge to step behind Ava, hide myself from the intensity of his glare.

It’s my body’s response to any sort of confrontation, to shrink away from it—make myself a smaller target.

“What did you say you needed?” Ava asks him, an edge to her voice, no doubt sensing my discomfort with the attention.

The man keeps his eyes on me as if he didn’t hear her, and I give in to the urge, taking a step back with Evee in my arms, my hand coming to rest on the back of her head, her little fingers tangling the hair coming loose from the braid hanging over my shoulder. Ava sidesteps to stand in front of me.

With Ava coming more in his view, I watch as the man’s head shakes quickly, blinking a few times as if coming back to himself.

He takes a step back from the counter, a hand running through his dark hair and coming to rest on the back of his neck, his features softening as he turns to Ava.

He looks more boyish now, maybe even a little embarrassed, and I feel myself relax.

“I’m looking for Luke,” he says clearly this time, his voice low and gravelly, like he hasn’t spoken yet today. His hand goes to his pocket, and I can see the slight redness on the column of his throat— definitely embarrassed.

I relax further, releasing an exhale as Evee blows a raspberry against my neck, her little giggles bringing a small smile to my face.

Before Ava can respond, I turn to head to the back office, needing to get my bearings after such a weird encounter, so many conflicting feelings running through my system—intrigue and trepidation swirling through my system.

Not to mention the confusion about the snippets of memories from that night all those months ago hitting me out of nowhere.

As I open the door to the office, my brain catching up to my emotions, I hear Ava ask what his name is, so she can pass it on to Luke.

“Jack,” he says as the door closes behind me.

Jack .