Page 46 of Ashes of Us
CHAPTER 18: PIPER
Istood on the sidewalk for thirty seconds after Liam disappeared around the corner.
Maybe longer. I lost track.
All around me, the world kept moving like nothing had happened, like my ex-fiancé hadn't just walked into my bakery and apologized for destroying my life.
He seems like a good guy. I'm glad.
Those words sat in my chest like a stone.
I turned and walked back inside. The bell chimed, cheerful and oblivious. Daniel was still standing by our table, hands in his pockets, watching me with that careful expression he got when he was trying to read a situation.
Mrs. Kowalski had gone back to her crossword puzzle. The laptop guy's fingers were clicking again. Megan appeared from the back room with a fresh carafe of coffee, took one look at my face, and disappeared again without a word.
Normal… everything was normal.
Except my hands were shaking and I couldn't quite catch my breath.
"Hey." Daniel's voice was soft. He didn't move toward me, just stood there giving me space. "You okay?"
I nodded, then shook my head. Then let out sharp and humorless laugh. "I don't know."
He was quiet for a moment, watching my face. Then: "Do you want to talk about it, or do you want me to pretend it didn't happen and finish my sandwich?"
"Sandwich." The word came out too fast. "Definitely sandwich."
He nodded and sat back down. Picked up his lunch like nothing had happened, like my entire past hadn't just walked through my door and apologized.
I slid into the chair across from him. My own sandwich was still sitting there, one bite taken. I picked it up and made myself chew.
Tasted like cardboard.
Daniel ate slowly, didn't fill the silence with questions I couldn't answer. Just gave me space to exist in whatever this feeling was.
He seems like a good guy. I'm glad.
I set down the sandwich.
"You don't have to stay," I said. "If you need to get back?—"
"I have ten minutes." He checked his watch. "Well, eight now. But I'm not leaving unless you want me to."
“Stay. Please."
We sat there and I took another bite I didn't taste. Daniel finished his sandwich and balled up the wrapper. His radio crackled—dispatch calling someone else's unit. He reached down and turned the volume lower.
“I’ll have to go soon," he said quietly. "But I can come back tonight after my shift. If you want."
Did I want that? I didn't know. I couldn't think past the ringing in my ears.
"Okay," I said.
He stood, leaned across the table and kissed my forehead. It was a steady, warm kiss.
"Text me if you need anything," he said. "Anything at all."
Then he was gone, the bell chiming behind him.
