Junna stared at the text she had sent, wanting so desperately to send a followup where she asked if Ayan wanted her to stay with him again, this time for safety in numbers. The whole day had caught her off-guard. From the moment she had woken up in Ayan’s arms, to him telling her she should take the job in France. Getting home that morning to find Sasha waiting for her all knowingly, a sly smirk on her face. Junna hadn’t stopped to tell her anything, just gotten dressed and hurried back to the cafe, stopping briefly to pet the cats.

She had been thrown again when the repairman came over with that camera, and the reality of their Elijah situation came blazing into perfect focus. The man was an actual threat, and his obsession with Ayan was dangerous. 4-alarm fire time, no more hemming and hawing on Mr. Psycho-pants. Junna cursed herself for not figuring out more about him before now, blaming ADHD and two jobs for forgetting. She knew Ayan could have looked into it too, but he was such a people pleaser that he probably hadn’t wanted to make a fuss if it meant upsetting Elijah. She finally sent a message to one of her friends who was a former investigator, asking if he would gather as much information on Elijah as he could. She promised him lots of yummy treats from the cafe, and he promised to get back to her when he had anything.

She had insisted Ayan head to the hospital to meet up with Soren, so sure that it was best for him to get as far away from the cafe as he possibly could right now. Wondering if Elijah was actively watching them from somewhere in the parking-lot. And then the cameras kept coming, and Junna felt like she was going to have a panic attack. They were everywhere. In the kitchen, just outside the bathroom, covering multiple angles in the dining area, even one hidden near the door to the back where they took out the trash. Elijah was so fucking thorough that it was sickening. Each camera had been meticulously painted to match the area where it was placed. The maintenance man, Edgar, looked more uncomfortable every time he found one.

It was time to call the police. Junna told them all the information she had so far. Asked if they wanted the cameras. They showed up to collect them. She told them how long Elijah had been a patron, and that he had followed Ayan to the soup kitchen. The more she told them, the more she cursed herself for not being more concerned throughout the week. Her mind had been in a million places at once, and the reality of the situation hadn’t quite hit her until now.

Now…

Now it was like a freight-train.

Now, she was terrified for Ayan.

Who knew what sort of psycho they were dealing with. The kind of man who would place cameras all over the restaurant in an attempt to what? To watch Ayan’s every move? She told the police that she suspected Elijah might have been capable of placing them around Ayan’s apartment, and then she felt her gut clench as she thought about him filming and watching their intimate moments together.

So, she told Ayan to go home and contact the police so that they could search his apartment and make sure that he was safe. And he could give his statement as well.

She was in such a daze, that she hadn’t even realized she had driven to the hospital, and was now walking down to Soren’s room. A part of her hoped that Ayan was still there, and that she could put some sort of emotional shield around him, protect him from this insanity.

“Junna!” Soren greeted, smiling when he saw her approach. “My friend Avery is almost here, but I’m glad you could make it before I left.”

“Did Ayan go home?” Junna asked.

“Yeah,” Soren nodded. “He was pretty freaked out after your text. I hope he got the cops involved, but he looked so uncomfortable when he mentioned them.”

“He did?” Junna asked, frowning. She shook off the icky feeling. “How’s Sakura doing?”

“Good!” Soren said. “She was talking. They wheeled me over to visit her for a little bit. I wanted to stay with her, but they told me I need to go home and rest, so I’m back here waiting for Avery. At least they finally gave me some decent painkillers. I felt like my leg was on fire before.”

“I’m so glad to hear she’s doing better,” Junna said. “and that you are too.”

Suddenly, she got a phone-call, and her heart plunged. It was her boss from the bar. She sent the call to voicemail.

“I’m so getting fired,” she murmured. She had no-called no-showed the night before, for the first time ever, and never bothered to respond to any of the numerous texts from her boss or coworkers. “Fuuck.”

Soren broke out laughing, a sound she realized she wasn’t used to hearing from him.

There were loud footsteps, and Junna looked over to see a young man enter, his shirt stained with dirt and sweat stains. He reeked of weed. His dirty blonde hair was a wild mess.

“Bro, sick cast!” the young man said.

Junna looked from the young man back to Soren, “Who is this?”

“This is Avery, my best guy. He’s taking me home with him tonight so I’m not alone,” Soren said.

“Pleased to meet you,” Avery said, holding out a hand to Junna, “and may I just say your turquoise hair is fire, and I love older women.”

“Nope,” Junna shook her head, “absolutely not. Soren, you’re coming home with me tonight. Sorry, Avery, no offense. You’re a great guy to come pick him up and all, but this guy needs to be cared for, and I’m not sure you’ve got that in you.”

“Feisty,” Avery said, holding up his hands in surrender, “No offense taken.”

“Have a good night, Avery, and don’t smoke any more weed before you drive,” Junna said. “Soren, get ready, I’m gonna pull the car around.”

Half an hour later, Junna had gotten Soren into the car, and driven him to her apartment. The crutches were hard to manage, but they somehow made their way up to her apartment, using the elevator. She had texted Sasha beforehand so that she wasn’t caught unawares, and the couch was already prepared for him. Soren hobbled over and sat down gratefully, smiling as IDK jumped into his lap immediately and began to purr.

“Are you going to work tonight?” Sasha asked, frowning at the clock.

“No,” Junna said. “I’m going to text that I’m sick, and if I get shit for it, I’m going to quit. Don’t worry, I can still pay rent.”

“I’m not worried about that,” Sasha insisted.

“I do have to go out though. I’ll be back in a little bit. There are some leftovers for dinner, and some tv dinners if you want one, Soren.”

“I’m good with whatever,” Soren shrugged.

“I’ve got it,” Sasha said. “You go do whatever you’ve got to do.”

“Soren, if you have some emergency that Sasha can’t tend to, text me,” Junna said.

“My phone’s busted from the rain yesterday,” Soren explained, “I am phoneless.”

“Right,” Junna said, opening instacart and ordering a cheap prepaid cellphone with her credit card. She knew she would be regretting any purchases she made now in the future, but at the moment, she didn’t care. “So, you’ll have a phone in an hour or so. Until then, be good and listen to Sasha. Maybe you two can watch some tv together.”

“Ooh, that sounds fun,” Sasha said. “Wanna watch a movie, Soren?”

Soren shrugged before saying, “Sure!”

“Be back soon. We may have another guest,” Junna said.

“As long as you two keep it down,” said Sasha.

“Wait, what?!” Soren exclaimed just as Junna closed the door behind her.

She showed up at Ayan’s place and knocked quickly, somewhat relieved when Mrs. Sanchez didn’t come to the door first. She cared about the sweet old widow as much as anyone, but today she wasn’t feeling very chatty. Ayan opened the door, staring at her in surprise.

“Junna, what?” Ayan started.

“Get packed. You’re staying with me tonight,” Junna said. “It’s safer. I know you didn’t call the police yet.”

“You don’t have to-”

“Don’t be stupid,” Junna snapped. “Get your stuff. Let’s go.”

“Um, okay,” Ayan said, rushing back inside. Junna followed him in, looking around critically as he packed some clothes, toiletries, vitamins, etc. She peered around tables, inside lamps, every corner, Junna took a quick glance. She didn’t really feel any relief after finding nothing, especially with what had been discovered at the cafe earlier.

“All set,” Ayan said, rushing back to the living room with a backpack full of supplies. Junna crossed the floor and pulled him into a hug, squeezing him close. She wanted to talk, but she didn’t trust it there, so she grabbed his hand and pulled him outside and downstairs to her car.

“Don’t you have work?” Ayan asked.

“Not tonight,” Junna said, “And honestly, I may not be going back. I was tired of that job anyway.”

“Did you respond to the France job?” Ayan asked.

“I’m sure Sasha did for me,” Junna said. “She wouldn’t be able to help herself. Wouldn’t want me to miss the opportunity either. Maybe this whole thing is a sign that you should move with me.”

“I don’t know about-”

“Oh shush,” said Junna. “Let me have my fantasy.”

They reached her apartment, and Ayan seemed excited to see Soren, and then his face turned red with embarrassment.

“I uh, I can sleep on the uh, on the floor,” Ayan said.

Junna glanced at Sasha, who looked positively giddy at the situation as she sat next to Soren on the couch.

“It’s not a big deal,” Junna said. “You’ll be staying in my room.”

“Umm, isn’t that sus?” Soren asked. “The boss, and the bossier boss?”

“Soren, when a grownup likes another grownup very much, they sometimes start having a relationship. And that relationship is no one else’s business, so mind yours, okay?” Junna said.

“Got it, boss,” said Soren, attempting in vain to hide a smirk.

“Should I heat up some more leftovers?” Sasha asked.

“Yes please,” Junna said, before grabbing Ayan’s hand and dragging him into her room to plant a kiss on his lips in private. They stood there just kissing and holding one another, relishing in the touch, not daring to take it any further with Sasha and Soren in the house.