And there they were.
Elena and Caleb Wright, standing together in front of the paint display, samples spread across the counter between them. They looked comfortable, like this was just their Saturday now.
All three of us froze.
"Matt," Elena said, her voice coming out slightly higher than normal.
"Hey." My hand tightened on the cart handle.
Caleb looked between us, then back at me. "Hey."
The silence stretched out, thick and awkward. Somewhere in the store, a radio was playing country music too quietly to make out the words.
Elena was holding paint samples, grays and soft whites. She'd always liked light colors.
Caleb stood beside her, close but not touching. Jeans and a flannel shirt, standing there like he had all the time in the world. He had that calm, watchful look people got when they were sizing up whether a situation was about to go sideways.
I should say something. Anything.
"I'm just..." I gestured vaguely toward the stain section. "Getting some things for my dad's porch."
"Oh," Elena said. "That's good. That's—yeah."
More silence.
I moved past them, grabbed a can of water-based exterior stain from the shelf, and turned to go.
"That one's not great."
I stopped and looked at Caleb.
"For exterior," he said. "Especially old wood. It'll peel in six months."
Elena stayed where she was, still holding the paint samples.
Caleb walked over and picked up a different can. Oil-based, about fifteen dollars more. "This is what you want. That one sits on the surface. Looks good for a year, maybe two, then it starts to go. This penetrates deeper, lasts longer." He shrugged. "You'll still need to redo it eventually, but not every summer."
I stared at the can he was holding. Elena's boyfriend was giving me advice about wood stain, like we were normal people having a normal conversation.
"I've used both," he added. "Learned the hard way."
"Okay." I put my can back on the shelf and took the one he offered. "Thanks."
"Two coats. Maybe three if the wood's really weathered."
"Right."
Elena had moved closer, still clutching the paint samples. She was looking at Caleb like she was seeing something new.
"We should probably..." she started.
"Yeah," I said quickly. "I've got to get going."
"Okay."
"Good luck with the porch," Caleb said.
I nodded and pushed my cart past them without looking back. Made it to the next aisle before I had to stop and breathe.
