(Ariel's POV continued)

The cafe was warm, and there was some soft music playing from somewhere. Ariel bent low at a corner table, hidden away, her body so heavy from exhaustion. The barista smiled with politeness, but all Ariel could manage in response was a faintly teasing quirk of the lips. "Just a coffee, please," she whispered softly. The tide of relief that washed over her was that this woman hadn't seen the post.

There was a tinge of nervousness clinging to her as she walked in, expecting people to recognize her and ask her to leave.

The thoughts of Dave and Jayden swam in her brain as she waited...