Elena’s pov

“The usual?”

“Please,” I said, already pulling out my card.

The girl behind the counter smiled and turned away, and I let out a slow breath, my fingers tightening around my phone before I forced them to relax.

I looked around the coffee shop.

Same warm lighting, same low hum of conversation, same smell of ground beans and something sweet baking in the back.

Nothing had changed.

That was the point.

I hadn’t planned to step out during work hours, but I needed air, ...