I Know Places ~ Emily Prentiss

Chapter 17

Rolling over, your outstretched hand fell flat into the empty space beside you. This wasn't the first time you had woken up in the last few weeks alone and you were fairly certain it wouldn't be the last. You hadn't left the apartment much since you arrived and it was often eerily quiet seeing as Emily was almost always out.

You had few responsibilities and a nonexistent amount of social events to attend in this new unfamiliar town which meant you had to get energy out other ways. The apartment was obsessively clean at any moment and like clockwork you left the house for a run every morning.

As you turned into the park, you got lost in your thoughts and the music pounding in your ears. A dog bounded onto the path in front of you, causing your heart to leap out of your chest. Almost immediately, a young blonde woman came sprinting after the German Shepard, snatching up the leash.

She looked up, just noticing you as she attempted to catch her breath. Her platinum colored hair was tied up on her head and curtain bangs stuck to her forehead. Plump pink lips curved into a bright smile that almost reminded you of Emily's. Then again everything was reminding you of her now that she was never around.

The woman held out her hand, spinning into a flurry of apologies." I'm Charlotte, so sorry. He's always getting off his leash and usually I can catch up with him but I was um- distracted."

You laughed, shaking your head to easily accept the apology. "Don't worry, it's no big deal. He didn't do anything, just made me jump a bit."

She sighed in relief " Oh thats good! Hey I'm almost done here... Can I buy you a coffee? Make it up to you?"

" Oh really it was no big deal. You don't need to-"

She cut you off tilting her head. " Maybe I just wanted to buy you a coffee." She smiled, biting down on her lip. While waiting for you to respond, she anxiously wrapped the dog leash tightly around her hand.

" Oh, usually I run a little farther that way but sure, I can make an exception," you agreed with a soft smile.

" You usually go up to the giant oak tree right? Sorry that sounded creepy. It's just I'm here every morning too. I've seen you a couple times before."

" Yeah every morning at 7. I just moved here with my girlfriend so I'm trying to get into a new routine. I'm assuming you would know the best cafe around here."

She stepped next to you, turning to point down the street. " Yep, right this way." The two of you started walking, occasionally stopping to let Charlotte's dog, who you learned was named Brewster, run around.

You arrived outside a cute little cafe, decorated with neutral colors and lots of bright plants. Ordering two hot coffees, you found a table outside so Charlotte could set down a bowl of water for Brewster. To fill the brief awkward silence between you, she began to ask about your life. " So what made you move here?"

" My girlfriend's job. I said I'd come with her if she ever wanted to get away from her hometown. She's a news editor." It was the first job that came to mind after seeing a discarded newspaper on the table next to you.

" Oh, that's so sweet. I'd love to meet her sometime, and of course get to know you better, but I do have to be to work soon. I'm sorry to cut this short."