I took my time washing my hair and drying it. Dressing was easy enough with the sunlight finally coming into the room. Jude was a hard sleeper and didn’t even budge while I got myself ready. I was going to go find coffee and take my book with me. I wasn’t sure just how late Jude slept and I didn’t want to wake her early.

Deciding against driving, I chose to walk toward the campus center. I needed to find the library, too. That was important. There were several books I was supposed to have on my reading log for two different classes.

No one was awake. The early morning light was something to take in on the quiet campus. I doubted I would walk through it empty like this again. Today was Sunday. On Monday classes would begin. Today the rest of the students would arrive and get settled. It was move-in weekend. I wondered how long it would be before the campus started stirring with activity. I knew Crawford had gotten back late because he’d texted me. I didn’t expect to hear from him until closer to lunch.

I passed the main office and turned on the downtown street when the smell of coffee finally met my nose. I was getting close. I saw someone walk out of a storefront up ahead with a coffee in his hand and knew I’d found what I was looking for—and walking distance from the dorm. That was really good news.

In the café window, EARLY PERK was painted in green with brown and yellow accents. There was a display of huge muffins and pastries just under the name, and I decided this might be my new favorite place. Café tables with yellow umbrellas were scattered along the sidewalk out front. Inside there were about seven tables, and benches lined the walls.

I inhaled again as I walked in the door. This was exactly like I expected. Which was odd. Why I expected anything, I wasn’t sure. I’d heard my brother talk about his college life plenty last year, and although he wasn’t very descriptive, I have a vivid imagination and tended to create how I think things should look in my head. This coffee shop, for example.

My mother had always said I should write books. All my life I’ve had a very bright and colorful imagination. I liked telling stories and exploring other realities. It was my escape many times to daydream.

The barista was a girl about my age. A job here wouldn’t be bad. I’d enjoy being in this atmosphere.

“What can I get you?” she asked with a smile. Her short brown hair was curly and had a wild look to it that I liked. She had a pixie-shaped face that it fit with. An interesting tattoo of tiny birds flying away went down into her neckline.

“I have two questions,” I told her.

“Okay.”

“Are they hiring here?” I asked her.

Her smile became a relieved one. “Oh my God, yes. We just lost our other weekend girl and I’m here alone until twelve when the afternoon help arrives. No one wants weekend mornings from five to twelve. Then one more day during the week you would have to work a five to twelve.”

I had no problem with early mornings. “I don’t have morning classes on Thursdays. Would that work?”

The girl actually bounced on her feet. “Yes! Here.” She scrambled under the counter in front of her and pulled out a paper and a pen. “Fill this out and I’ll call Jane, the owner, while you do that. She might hire you today.”

“Great!” I had been worried finding a job was going to be much more difficult than this. I loved this little place. Working here on weekend mornings would be perfect.

I sat down at the nearest table and began filling out the paperwork.

“Hey, what was your other question?” the girl called out. “And I’m Isla, by the way.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Isla. I’m Vale, and I was going to ask what coffee you suggested. The menu is extensive.”

She beamed at me. “Let me fix you up.”

I ended up drinking my café mocha latte with whipped cream while she taught me where everything was in the back and how to work the espresso machine.

I had a job.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

SLATE

THE FIRST WEEK of classes always sucked. Getting all the paperwork and syllabuses stressed me the hell out. Then add the fact Uncle D had passed out Wednesday and busted his head open while hospice was there; his being sent back to the hospital just made it worse. I had been told hospice would take care of him. That shit shouldn’t have happened.

It was hard to concentrate on anything when my thoughts were with Uncle D. I called him a couple times a day and it was annoying the hell out of him. He sounded so damn weak, though. Even more so than when I had seen him last.

Once I got to my room on Thursday after my morning classes, I dropped my books and all the damn paperwork they’d given us on my bed and let out a frustrated growl. I shouldn’t be here. I should be with my uncle. This was bullshit. He shouldn’t expect me to stay here while he was fucking dying.

The scholarship I was on wouldn’t let me drop out this semester to go spend it with him. But I was at the point where I just didn’t care. I’d get a school loan when I needed to return.

Convincing Uncle D of this was going to be hard, though.

A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. I swear to God, if it’s a girl I may lose my shit. I hadn’t dated since I got back here and I wasn’t in the mind-set for anything. I was terrified every time my phone rang that it was a call about my uncle. I didn’t have time for dating drama.

“Yeah,” I barked unwelcomingly. Just in case it wasn’t a brother.

The door opened slowly, like the person on the other side wasn’t sure it was a good idea to come in. “What do you want?” I asked again, ready to get this over with.

Then Vale appeared and all my frustration evaporated. That was not who I was expecting. She wasn’t here for me, of course, but seeing her after days of making myself not look for her on campus was nice. It felt good when nothing else in my life felt good.

Knox would fucking kill me if he could read my thoughts.

“I’m … I’m sorry if this is a bad time.…” She sounded nervous, and I realized I’d all but bit her head off for knocking.

“No, no, I thought you were someone else. Come in. I’m just going over all this first-of-the-semester shit they drown us in.”

She nodded. “Yeah, it’s a lot.”

She was still nervous.

“Knox isn’t here.” I stated the obvious.

“Yeah, I know. I talked to him. I actually stopped by to see you. I would have called, but I don’t have your number and I didn’t want to ask Knox because he’d assume…” She trailed off and blushed. The pink on her cheeks was damn adorable.

“I don’t mind you stopping by whenever you want,” I told her honestly.

“Thanks. I just … I know we talked about me going with you to see your uncle this weekend and I really want to, but I wasn’t sure when you were going. See, I got a job at Early Perk and I work five to twelve every weekend morning. I’d ask off, but I just got the job and this will be my first weekend. I’m afraid I might lose my job if I do.”

I hated that she was so nervous with me. Her cheeks were still pink, and she could barely look me in the eyes. I wanted her comfortable with me. Simply so I could listen to her talk and look at those amazing eyes of hers.

“Yeah, no, you don’t need to ask off and lose that. It’s a great place. I’m glad you found a job so fast. Uncle D is actually back at the hospital in Franklin. We could leave around one on Saturday and stay the afternoon with him. Maybe eat dinner with him, then head back here around eight.”