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Maverick crosses his arms and looks down at me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry.” I close my eyes and shake my head. “I just, the door is right there, and⁠—”

“I’ll stand right out here, okay?” In demonstration, he turns around and leans back against the wall right beside the dressing room.

My heart warms at his simple act of kindness. Except, it’s not really simple at all, is it? “Thank you.”

He doesn’t respond, just offers me a quick nod, so I step into the dressing room and slide the curtain closed. I take a few moments to simply settle. He’s right outside, literally inches away from the curtain and standing right between me and the door.

And with him there, I can finally breathe easier.

Because, even if it makes no sense, and although I don’t even know his last name, I know that Maverick won’t let anyone get to me.

But who will save him if the monster comes anyway?

Maverick pulls his truck into a parking lot right behind an old house. There’s a mechanic’s shop in the back, and when we pull in, a man wearing a backward baseball cap and a pair of coveralls steps from one of the bay doors. He lifts his hand in a wave.

“Buddy of mine. Come on. His wife makes the best coffee.” Maverick climbs out, so I do the same, so grateful that Kara let me wear one of the outfits out. Dressed in thick leggings and a light blue sweater, I am feeling a little more like myself.

“Hey, Mav, how’s it going?” The guy in the baseball cap greets.

“Getting some coffee. This is Sawyer,” he tells me.

“Hi.” Sawyer smiles at me, his expression kind. He offers me his hand, but I don’t immediately take it. His smile doesn’t falter even a little as he withdraws his hand.

“Sorry,” I say. “I’m Sadie.”

“No need to apologize. You okay?”

I nod. “I was in an accident.”

His smile falls slightly. “Sorry to hear that. Mav taking good care of you?”

If only you knew.

“We’re friends. I’m helping her get back on her feet,” Mav replies.

“I didn’t know you had more than one friend,” Sawyer shoots back. “I’m honestly offended because I thought I was your only one.”

Mav smiles slightly and crosses his arms. “Yeah, well, I’m full of surprises. Anastasia open?”

“She is. I was actually about to head in for a coffee myself. Come on, I’ll walk you guys through the back.” He pulls some keys from his pocket and heads toward the house. I fall into step beside Maverick, following Sawyer.

After pausing to unlock it, he opens the back door, then starts to step to the side to let us in.

“I got it,” Maverick says as he takes the door.

“What a gentleman,” Sawyer quips with a wink at me, then heads inside.

Maverick looks back at me, and this time, instead of waiting for him to go first, I go ahead into the house. Mainly because I don’t want to be out here alone. And also because I no longer worry about my safety when it comes to the bartender.

There is no doubt in my mind that I was led to him, and I know that God wouldn’t have brought me to his doorstep if he were just another monster. Simply acknowledging that brings me more comfort than I could have expected. My shoulders relax slightly, and for a moment, I imagine that I’m here with him under completely different circumstances.

The coffee shop smells absolutely amazing. And despite the fact that I just ate an hour or so ago, my stomach growls at the scent of fresh-baked goods and brewed coffee. There’s not much noise as we walk down a short hallway and emerge into the coffee shop, but I do note a group of guys near a back table.

As we move inside, every single one of them stops talking, their intense gazes trained on us.

The monster isn’t here, I assure myself as my pulse kicks up. But as those three men keep staring in my direction, a trickle of vulnerability runs through me.