Page 78 of Ashes of Us
We reached the wall at the same time.
I grabbed the edge and so did he. We were three feet apart, both breathing hard, both pretending the other person wasn't there.
"Morning," he said finally.
"Morning."
"Sorry I came in at this time," he said. "Physical therapist insisted on me keeping to a schedule, and I couldn’t make it at another time. Might happen every now and again, unless you?—"
"It’s not a problem."
That was it. That was the entire conversation. We pushed off and kept swimming.
But I'd noticed his stroke was different. Compensating for the shoulder. And I'd noticed he was thinner, definitely thinner. And I'd noticed that he'd said "morning" in that same rough voice he'd had that night at the pool two months ago.
I noticed everything and I hated that I noticed.
The third time,I almost laughed.
Saturday afternoon at a coffee shop. I was picking up a latte before heading back to the bakery for afternoon prep. He was at a table by the window, laptop open, very obviously trying to do paperwork one-handed.
Our eyes met. His widened slightly, mine probably did too.
Then he smiled. Not the big grin I remembered from years ago. Something smaller, more careful. The smile of someone who'd learned not to expect anything.
I smiled back before I could stop myself.
He stood up, slightly awkward with the sling, and came over.
"We have to stop meeting like this," he said.
And that's when I almost laughed. Because he was right. Riverside was a small town but it wasn't this small. The universe was clearly having a laugh at our expense.
"Guess we shop at the same places," I said.
"Guess so."
The barista called my name and I grabbed my latte. Liam was still standing there.
"How's the bakery?" he asked.
"Busy. Good busy."
"That's good. That’s… I’m glad."
Another pause, but different this time. Less excruciating, almost normal.
"I should get back," I said.
"Yeah. Of course."
I was halfway to the door when he spoke again.
"Piper?"
I turned.
He looked like he was about to say something important. Then changed his mind. "Nothing. Never mind. Have a good day."
