"Do you want a latte or a cappuccino?" Adam asked from the head of the line at the coffee shop counter.
"Surprise me," Cassie said, and then watched him interact with the barista, placing his order and counting out his money.
Cassie pretended not to know him for a moment and imagined he was a stranger she'd just seen for the first time. She observed his cut jaw and broad shoulders, those auburn curls. Yes, she thought to herself. It would be love at first sight all over again.
Things between Cassie and Adam had come around full circle. The past few days since the confrontation with Scarlett at the docks had been romantic and exciting, just like the first days of their relationship. When he kissed her, she shivered with that familiar pleasure and excitement, of loving him so completely with her entire body and soul, and knowing he felt the same.
Since the truth had come out about Scarlett, Adam went back to being Adam, and Cassie went back to being Cassie, but happier and more confident.
Adam returned to their table, setting down an iced mocha topped with whipped cream and a giant chocolate-chip cookie.
"You said to surprise you," he said.
"You're trying to get me high on sugar."
"That's how I like you best." He dipped his finger into the whipped cream for a taste.
Cassie glanced at the door, but the girl entering wasn't Scarlett.
Adam laughed. "She's only a few minutes late, relax."
"I know." Cassie broke off a hunk of cookie and shoved it into her mouth while Adam took another swipe at the whipped cream. She looked away, not wanting to be caught watching him lick it from his fingers.
"Should I leave you and my iced mocha alone?" she asked.
Adam blushed, pushing the drink closer to Cassie and out of his reach. Then he wiped his mouth with a napkin and tried to be serious. "I'm so glad for you," he said. "Scarlett is pretty amazing. I can totally see how the two of you are related."
"I tried to tell you," Cassie said.
"I know. And I've never been happier to admit that I was wrong."
"Well, you can tell Scarlett that in person, if she ever gets here." Cassie glanced at the door again and then took a sip of her drink. "I'm starting to worry that she hasn't shown up yet. I'm going to call her."
But Scarlett didn't answer her phone, and Cassie began to worry even more.
"I have a bad feeling about this," she said. She knew if she phrased it that way, Adam would take her seriously.
"Then we should go over to the B and B and see if she's there." Adam stood up, wasting no time.
It was exactly what Cassie wanted him to suggest.
Sometimes his predictability was her favorite thing about him.
The bed-and-breakfast where Scarlett was staying was a Georgian building just off Old Town Square. It was one of the most beautiful historical B and Bs in New Salem, owned and operated by an old man whom Cassie knew by sight. She'd grown used to seeing him walking his three Pomeranians around town. A few times, she'd bent down to pet one of the dogs, but she never engaged in much conversation with the old man. He was who answered the door when they arrived, the dogs yapping and jumping around his feet.
Cassie introduced herself and Adam while the man ordered his dogs to be quiet. Once inside, she stuttered a bit before saying, "Sorry to bother you, but my sister, Scarlett, is a guest here. We were wondering if she's here." It was the first time Cassie had ever said those words, my sister. It felt exhilarating to say it, but it also felt foreign, as if she were telling a lie.
The man nodded and rubbed at the silver scruff on his chin. "Yes, yes, Scarlett with the crazy hair," he said.
"So she's here?" Cassie was momentarily relieved.
"No," he replied. "She hasn't been here since yesterday." Adam noticed the panic in Cassie's eyes and pressed for more information. "Are you sure? She never came home last night, not even to sleep?"
"No, she didn't," the man said, straightening his posture.
"But that's really not your business. A girl has a right to her privacy." His eyes ricocheted between Adam and Cassie, and then he raised his white eyebrows. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I can't give out information on my guests to two strangers, kids or not."
"Of course," Adam said. "We understand. Thank you for your help." He left a phone number so they could be reached in case Scarlett returned, or if he heard anything of her whereabouts.
Back in the car, Cassie turned to him. "Now I'm really worried sick. What should we do?"
Adam focused on his driving. "I think we should give it a little more time," he said calmly. "We don't know that she's in trouble. She could just be out and about."
"Out and about?" Cassie was exasperated. "If she was just out and about, then she would have shown up at the coffee shop when she was supposed to, or at least answered her phone."
"Cassie." Adam chose his words carefully. "Try to remember that we don't know all that much about Scarlett.