Foolish Mortals

Chapter 8

de-fal-ca-tion

dee-fal-KAY-shun

noun

the act or instance of embezzling; a failure to meet a promise or expectation

synonyms: failure, insolvency, disaster, loss, indebtedness, ruination

The morning shift was frantic at It's Bean Great, especially without Jess. There was no new employee yet, so I was moving like a whirlwind, smile pasted on as I took orders, made coffee, wiped down tables, and cleaned up spills.

My day brightened considerably when I saw Liam gusting in with the crisp fall air, and pausing to let his eyes seek me out and drift over me. I'd been so afraid he wouldn't come around again, I almost forgot I was irritated at him for being incommunicado.

He approached the counter and stood behind an old woman who was trying to decide what she wanted. Impatience simmered in his gaze as he listened to her waffling.

"I would really recommend the plain iced coffee." My eyes kept drifting up over the lady's head to soak up the gorgeousness of Liam, and I forced my gaze back down to the customer.

"It won't be too dark?"

"You can always add cream or sugar to your taste, at that station right there, ma'am." I gestured to the little counter.

"Well then, that sounds fine."

Finally, we had a decision. I quickly poured cold brew over some ice, slapped a lid on it, and handed it over. She was pouring coins onto the counter, and I swept them up to put in the register, counting them as I went. She had overpaid me by one penny, but I was just going to assume that was her version of a tip.

"Enjoy!" I said brightly, watching her shuffle out of the way.

Then Liam stepped up to the counter and leaned forward, bracing his palms on the countertop. I started to lean back, but his eyes were so bright blue, and so direct on my face, that I found myself leaning into him, instead.

"Hello," I said, voice coming out embarrassingly breathy. "You really have a thing for invading personal space, don't you?"

"Another invention I have no patience for." His voice sounded harsh, but his face didn't look angry, for once. His hands slid forward across the counter until just the very tip of his middle finger touched the tip of mine.

"What do you have patience for?"

"I have infinite patience for fulfilling my promises," Liam said darkly. "I heard you were looking for me. Did you not trust me, Jacqueline?"

"Do you mean am I at all marginally intelligent? Of course I don't trust you. I don't know you."

"I hold my word as inviolate. I have been attempting to assist you in the manner you requested."

I swiftly interpreted his formal-speak. "So you looked for Simone? And?"

"She is gone." Liam let the words out in a voice so deep it was almost a growl, and his fingers tightened on the countertop until their tips went white.

"Gone, like... What do you mean, gone?" I blinked back the urge to cry in frustration.

"She has disappeared. You said your Isaac's home was locked and vacant? It is the same with hers, and she is unresponsive." Liam hesitated, obviously about to say more, but then clamped his lips together.

"That's it? Nothing else we can do?" I threw my hands up and shoved them through my hair until the strands stuck straight up. I almost smacked him in the face accidentally with the gesture, but he ducked his head out of the way. "They're just... gone?"