Page 33 of After You

“Those hash browns are really good,” Hannah said. In fact, they were almost magical.

“Yep, that’s why he’s hightailing it over there,” Kyle said with agrin.

Hannah knew Albert would have been heading straight for Dottie’s whether he was hungry or not. That’s where all the other gossipy old men congregated, and anyone who brought in new gossip and news got their first cup of coffee free. Of course, the coffee was only about fifty cents a cup, but it was all about the honor of knowing something first. In Sapphire Falls, that was quite afeat.

Hannah lifted an eyebrow at Kyle. “You think he’s going to share his new exercise for back pain? He might just get right down on the diner floor and prop his feet up on a booth?”

Kyle’s smile grew, and for a second Hannah forgot that she was annoyed about her and Kyle being the newest piece of gossip in town when she didn’t even know what was goingon.

“I think the floor of the diner is one of the cleanest places in town,” Kyle said. “And I think that Albert loves knowing things other people don’t. And I think there are about six guys in there who are also having back pain. And I think hearing that he got the information from you will make a huge difference.”

Hannah didn’t know if Kyle was intentionally rubbing in the fact that she would have been a very welcome and well-respected part of the health care team here, or if he was just talking, but it worked to intensify her regret. She couldn’t practice PT, here or anywhere. And the accident hadn’t been her fault. But that didn’t mean she didn’t wish it was different.

“They don’t listen to the PT here?” she asked. She’d actually wondered about that in the past. Sapphire Falls was a very tight-knit community. They accepted new people and loved seeing the town grow. But patients had a hard time liking their PTs sometimes anyway. The hallmark of physical therapy was healing, of course, but to get there sometimes required tough love. And pushing. And nagging.

Kyle’s smile died almost instantly, and Hannah blinked at the sudden change.

“Come on,” he said. He started for the door. “Bailey, I’m heading out. Call me if you needme.”

“You know it,” Bailey toldhim.

Kyle took Hannah’s elbow as they stepped out onto the porch, almost as if he felt the need to keep hold ofher.

“Kyle, Ijust—”

“Save it,” he said. “We can say whatever we want to in about two minutes.”

She let him lead her down the porch steps and to the sidewalk in front of the house. Then he took herhand.

She stiffened slightly, but let him hold it. It felt…nice. She had no idea what was going on, but she hated to make a big deal out of holding the hand of her childhood friend and one-time boyfriend. Maybe he’d done it without thinking.

He looked over at her. “You’re going to hold myhand?”

Or maybe he hadn’t done it without thinking. “Yes. I guess. I don’t know.” She frowned. “You took myhand.”

He pulled in a breath. “I know. Pullaway.”

“ButI—”

“Holy shit, Hannah,” he said through gritted teeth as he gripped her hand tighter, even as he smiled and waved at a car passing by. “Can you just fucking go along with me for two minutes?”

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