I should have realized that naming a character Katie, like in the book/movie, would be confusing. I apologize for that. The Katie in my story has nothing to do with the Katie from the book and movie. The story is only slightly inspired by Nicholas Sparks' Safe Haven, I only took the title and the main storyline in the sense that Ashley is hiding and running from her past, but it won't be the same story. Just wanted to clear that up.

That being said, I hope you enjoy this chapter! :)

Chapter 3

It's just another day at Ray's Café. I'm sitting on a stool in the kitchen, eating scrambled eggs, while Ray is chopping vegetables for today. We're chatting about the weather, the upcoming events in town and Susan's son, who's been sick for a week now. He has pneumonia so Ray gave her a paid vacation to stay with him. Did I mention Ray was the best?

I finish my breakfast as Ray finishes getting the kitchen ready. I love my job, I love the people I work with, but sometimes I wish I didn't have to work this much. It's really nice outside today and I feel happier than usual. I can't wait until my day off. I think I might spend it at the lake if it's as nice as today, I haven't been there in over a year.

For some reason, I feel nervous today. I breathe, trying to calm my nerves. I know she's going to be here again today, just like every day for the past week. We don't talk much, but I know she's stealing glances at me once in a while and I do the same. I like the way she's so concentrated when she's reading, or how she stares at me when I'm taking orders from other customers, thinking I don't notice, or how she bites her bottom lip when she's deciding what to order.

I wish I could talk to her more but I always feel like my questions are intrusive, that it is never the right question or the right time. I remember when I first got here, I didn't want anyone asking me questions about where I came from and what I was doing here. I'm not saying she's here for the same reasons but I can't help but wonder. She hasn't mentioned anything about her life in Chicago, other than the fact that she's a photographer.

Katie is getting tables ready as the first customers of the day come in. I put my apron on, getting ready to start my day, just like every other day for the past 3 years.

IOIOIOIOIOI

It's quieter than usual today. Ray is not happy because he prepared too much food. He hopes it will pick up for dinner. I hope it will too because Katie and I are usually not in a good mood when Ray isn't.

Spencer walks in, waving at me shyly. I calm down as soon as I see her. I'm still nervous, but a good kind of nervous, the kind that feels more like butterflies. I look at my watch and see that it's 11:30. She's here earlier than usual. I smile at her as I get closer. She's wearing denim shorts with a navy tank top, her blonde hair in a loose bun. She looks really cute. She looks relaxed and happy. She's tanner than she was when she first got here. Well it is true that it is sunnier than in Chicago after all.

I lead her to her table, near a window, where I know she enjoys sitting.

"You're here early," I tell her.

She smiles. "I felt like having lunch here today."

I tell her that it's quiet today, so she did pick a good day. I get her a menu and proceed to tell her what is good for lunch. I give her some time and tell her that I'll be right back with water.

When I get back, she's still looking at the menu. I fill her glass of water.

"I'm going to get a ham and Swiss panini, I think," she says.

I nod. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

She shakes her head, telling me water is fine, and I nod. She's hesitant, like she wants to say something. I look at her, expectantly. I see her shake her head, or shrug? Or both at the same time? I just know that by the time I realize it, she's already back to staring out the window, like she does every day. That, or she reads a book, but I don't see any with her today. I see her hands shaking on the table, she's trying to calm them without me noticing. I wish I could take them in my own hands to calm her.

I know we want to tell each other things. I can feel it, this connection with her. I know we would talk to each other if we could just let our guards down for just a second. I don't even know her but this connection is something I've never felt before. The glances, the smiles, the small touches when I hand her back her credit card… it feels different, new, and somewhat overwhelming.

I sigh and leave her alone with her own thoughts.

IOIOIOIOIOI

About half an hour later, when I'm done getting orders for a family, I notice that she finished eating. I get to her table and fill her glass with water, wondering what random question I could ask her, hoping to spend just another minute close to her.

"So, are you enjoying your stay here?" I ask, smiling.

I know, it's lame, but it's the only question I could think of.

She doesn't seem like she minds as she nods. "I really am. I like how peaceful it is. I hiked up the mountain yesterday, the view was just amazing."

I know what she means. The view is breathtaking. "It is, isn't it? I love it up there."

She smiles. "Have you been living here long? If you don't mind me asking. It's just that… I can tell you're not from here."

I nod, looking down. "About 3 years now." I reply, hoping she doesn't ask the question I'm dreading. I'm not ready for her to ask it just yet.

She smiles, like she understands. "Well, for all it's worth, I understand why you chose this place."

I smile back. Her smile is contagious. I stare into her eyes for a second before I'm interrupted by the doorbell. I excuse myself to sit the people who just walked in at their table.

IOIOIOIOIOI

As she's leaving after paying, she looks like she wants to ask something again. I look at her, intensely, expectantly. My eyes are silently letting her know that it's okay, that she can ask me anything and that I'm here, even though we don't really know each other

It takes a few seconds before she finally speaks. "Would you… um, like to get coffee sometime? Maybe on your day off?" She asks quietly, blushing. "It's just… I don't really know anyone in town."

She's really cute when she's nervous. I really wish I could understand where all these thoughts about her are coming from.

"That would be great." I grin, my nose crinkling. She smiles wider. "I have Wednesday off." Two days, I can last two days before this… date? I don't think it's a date. It is two new friends just hanging out together, getting coffee. I don't think we're friends yet… But anyway, she's new in town, she just wants to meet people, I tell myself.

"Great!" She grins. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

I smile, nodding. "Of course. I'll be here… as usual."

She turns to me one more time, waving shyly at me, before she heads out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I see Katie approach me.

"Seems like you've made a new friend, Ash." She says, smiling at me.

I blush. "There's just something about her, I can't explain it… We're getting coffee on Wednesday." I'm still staring at the door, the one Spencer walked out from a few minutes ago.

Katie nods and puts her hand on my arm. "Just be careful, Ashley. I heard she was staying at Lina's B&B and it's not a long term reservation. I don't want you to get heartbroken when she leaves." I wonder who Katie heard that from. Probably Patty at the grocery store, she's friend with Lina.

I shrug. "It's just coffee…"

"It's never just coffee and you know that," she replies before bringing some orders to customers sitting in her section. I know that she means well, that she really cares about me, but it is really just coffee.

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