Page 6 of Hunted By Fear

I gave him the benefit of the doubt, chalking it up to mistaken identity, but the longer he stood around, the stranger it felt. I’d been tempted to lie and tell him Rome was due back soon, but when I opened my mouth, I couldn’t do it.

I’m not stupid. I know admitting I’m alone here while my husband is out of town isn’t the best idea, but it was as if my mouth had a mind of its own.

Stuck in my head, I hurry to the back to grab the muffins for Ms. Danfire’s order from the oven and send Rome a quick text letting him know I love and miss him. I know he probably can’t answer right now, but it settles something in me knowing he’s just a text away, even if he can’t be here with me right now.

My phone pings, and I almost drop the muffin tray in surprise. Scrambling back to the table, I quickly set it down and yank off my oven mitts as I fumble for my phone and find a big heart emoji from Rome.

My cheeks ache as a smile pulls at my lips, and my heart aches.

Fuck, I miss him, and it’s only the first day. How am I going to survive the rest of the week?

No, that’s not going to help.

Shaking the thought off, I tuck my phone back into my pocket and move to the front to find it empty.

What the hell?

I quickly move from one end of the counter to the other, searching for any sign of the guy who’d ordered the cinnamon roll, but come up empty. How strange. I know I’d been a little preoccupied with my phone, but that was only for a moment; besides, I should have heard the bell when he opened the door, regardless.

Unable to accept that he’s just vanished, I check both the men's and women’s bathrooms before I have no choice but to admit he’s gone.

I need to pay better attention to my surroundings.

Thank God, Rome isn’t here; he would never let me live this down.

The thought of him has me fishing my phone from my pocket in hopes of hearing from him again because I have no self-control. I can’t help but huff in disappointment when I find no new messages despite knowing he’s busy.

Get it together, Aerilyn; you have plenty to do.I mentally scold myself.

Putting my phone back in my pocket, I move to the door, flicking off the open sign and locking the door. It’s just about lunchtime, and I need to box up this order for Ms. Danfire down at the library for the monthly book club she hosts.

She’d been my first real customer when I opened three months ago, and I’d hate to let her down. Usually, I’d just leave the store open and pop back and forth, but clearly, that wasn’t a good idea today.

I get the order to her with plenty of time to spare, so I grab myself a book to pass the downtime at the shop.

Walking back, I can’t help the skip in my step at the idea of reading a new book.

I stop at the deli a few shops down from mine and grab a turkey and cheese sandwich and treat myself to an energy drink since Rome isn’t here to tell me how bad they are for me. I mean, I know he’s right, but they taste so good I can’t help but crave them, even if they stopped actually giving me energy somewhere in my sophomore year of college when I drank them like they were more important than oxygen.

To be honest, I’m pretty sure they’re the only reason I was able to graduate.

The rest of the day is slow, with people trickling in here and there. However, the after-work rush is big enough to hit our daily goal and then some. If this keeps up, Rome will be able to quit in no time!

The thought gives me a boost as I close up, cleaning tables and prepping tomorrow's bakes and the coffee machines. I head home with a pep in my step, excited to make more progress in my book, which is actually really good.

It’s about shifters and fated mates, and one of her guys has a piercing on his… Yeah, I didn’t even know that was a thing.

My happy mood melts away when I get home and close the door behind me.

Suddenly, the house feels a lot bigger and much lonelier without Rome here with me. He left this morning, and this is the first night I’ll spend alone in our new house.

“I’m a big girl. I can handle this,” I say out loud, hoping I’ll believe it…

I don’t.

I run through the house, flipping on every light before I check the back door to make sure it’s locked. With my book tuckedunder my arm, I run upstairs and close myself in my bedroom, jumping up on my bed and scurrying under my covers.

Our house isn’t exactly huge. It has three bedrooms, with one currently serving as Rome’s home office. Upstairs, there's a full bathroom, and downstairs, the living room, dining room, and kitchen all flow seamlessly together.