Page 7 of Now You See Me
“Not should, will.”
“When?” It’s silly to feel needy, but I do.
“How about every day, for the rest of time? Too much to ask?”
“Sounds perfect to me,” I whisper.
“Me too, sweetheart. Me too.”
ChapterThree
ELISE
“Are you absolutely sure about this?” my best friend asks as we walk to my car. “Showing up on the doorstep of a guy you’ve never met, or even seen, is kind of out there.”
“You make me sound like a stalker.”
“It’s him I’m worried about, not you. You don’t know anything about this guy. Not really. He could be stringing you along, only telling you what you want to hear. He might be a total loser in real life. And he’s too secretive, Ellie Belle. Not showing you a single picture? Those are glaring red flags. What if he’s some kind of hideous monster? Or worse. He could be a serial killer, for all you know.”
“He’s a coffee shop owner who’s guarded about his looks because a chemical accident disfigured him. If anyone understands how he feels, it’s me. We have tons in common, get along great, and there’s a boatload of chemistry. I don’t care what he looks like. If I get there andmyface is an issue for him…” I shrug because I don’t have a plan for that scenario.
“Then you’ll say ‘good riddance’ to his dumb ass and forget about him,” Anne says, pulling me into a hug.
“Right.” I swallow the lump in my throat. Even my bestie, who loves me unconditionally, won’t reassure me about my appearance. Just this once, I wouldn’t mind if she lied.
* * *
ELISE
My car is only a few years old, yet the built-in navigation system refused to recognize any of the addresses in Screaming Woods that I got from the internet. Addresses that didn’t show up in my first Google search—or any of the half dozen that followed. No matter how many variations of wording I entered, I came up empty. No results for the town of Screaming Woods or its coffee shop called Lucky Beans.
It was as if the town didn’t want to be found. Then, one night, after another amazing conversation with Roan lasted for hours and left me smiling so much, my face literally ached—I opened my laptop and searched one more time. And voilà… results. The town’s location. A street address and phone number for Lucky Beans. And more.
Fortunately, I printed all the information while I had the chance. Good old-fashioned map to the rescue. Many hours of twists and turns later, I’m in Screaming Woods. Somewhere among the streets unfolding ahead, so is Roan.
Just knowing we’re in the same place sends my heart racing. I’ve been thinking about this moment nearly since the beginning of my online relationship with Roan. He believes he’s unlovable in person because of what he described as a drastic change to his appearance. Drastic is a vague and intense word, so I’ve imagined a lot of possibilities. None of them scare me. I know his exterior won’t change what’s in my heart. Only our face-to-face meeting will prove that to him. And hopefully, he’ll feel the same way.
It’s nearly five o’clock, meaning Lucky Beans is open and Roan is likely there. I recognize the street names from the street map I’ve spent the last few nights studying, and I’m probably five minutes from the coffee shop. At the next intersection, I fight temptation and turn in a different direction, toward the motel where I’ve reserved a room. Must stick to the plan.
I park in front of the motel, and hold my head high as I walk toward the door beneath the Open sign. Screaming Woods is considerably smaller than the city I left behind. It’s possible the residents here have never seen a face as badly scarred as mine. I pause at the entrance and draw a deep breath. Whatever happens on the other side of this door, I’m ready.
“Hello there! Welcome to The Sunnyside Motel.”
I freeze in my tracks, my bottom lip dropping at the sight of the—man?—behind the desk. Yes, he’s a man. He has arms, a torso, and legs, from what I can see. But his face is smooth and flat, his eyes sit more to the sides than the front, and his lipless mouth stretches around the sides of his earless, scaly head. Tomorrow is Halloween, but his appearance doesn’t look like a costume. It’s too real. The man waiting for me to answer is a snake. Literally.
“You must be Elise Hawthorne,” he says, drawing the “s” out in a subtle hiss.
“Yes, that’s me.” I shake my head to free up my stuck eyeballs. Shame on me for staring. “How do you know who I am?”
“Out-of-town reservations are quite rare here.”
“At The Sunnyside Motel?” I ask, moving closer.
He shakes his head as I reach the desk. “In Screaming Woods. People who come here tend to have a specific reason for the visit.”
“I have a specific reason.” The best reason—love. “I met someone online, and he lives here. He doesn’t know I’m coming, though. So please don’t tell anyone you have a guest from out of town. I’d hate for it to get back to him and ruin the surprise.”
“You have my utmost discretion, Ms. Hawthorne.”
