Chapter 19: Unexpected Encounter

Smells of freshly ground coffee beans wafted through the air, a warming blanket in the chill of the crisp autumn morning. Olivia waited in line at The Daily Grind, waiting on her preferred local coffee shop, clutching around herself the oversized cardigan. The effort of leaving her apartment proper had taken so much out of her, but her mother's impending arrival had spurred her into action. She needed caffeine; she needed to feel normal, if only for a moment. As the line filed forward, Olivia allowed herself to look around the interior of The Brew. So warm with its exposed brick walls and local artwork that looked like it was telling her she belonged. Today, though, everything felt a little off, like the world had been tilted a few degrees while she wasn't looking. Olivia didn't notice the man who had just entered the shop behind her until he was almost right upon her. There was something so instantly recognizable about the scent of this cologne, and it made her heart race like mad b