“Inevitable.”I stepped aside so he could watch the pages stack.His shoulder brushed mine—fractional contact that shouldn’t register.It registered anyway.
“You good?”he asked, like last night existed in a sealed envelope we could reference but not open here.
“Running on caffeine and stress.”I sipped.Too sweet; he’d remembered.“You?”
“Bench presses and motivational screaming.”His smile reached one eye, not both.“Harper moved film to four, so I’m clear tonight if we’re still iterating.”
Iterating.The word flashed warm.“Ledger practice after dinner?”
“Works.”He tapped his cup against mine—quiet clink of cardboard.“Text me room temp; the radiator sounded petulant this morning.”
“Valve stabilized at sixty-eight point four.”I tried to be casual.It came out earnest; he grinned wider.
Machine dinged; stack complete.I pulled the tray, slapped the pages against the table.“Go learn about synergy.”
“Go terrorize quiz averages.”He backed away.He disappeared down the stairwell, sneakers squeaking.
I sent Maya a text.
Me:Forgot to ask earlier,Lunch?
Maya:Sounds good.I’m heading to North Point around 12:15.
Me:See you soon.Save me a seat.
I exhaled, counted to eight, then slid the quizzes into my bag.The hoodie sleeves still covered my hands.I cuffed them twice.
North Point smelled like fryer oil and cinnamon waffles—two things the human brain shouldn’t process simultaneously.I threaded through noon traffic, acquired soup and saltines, then scoped for Maya.
She waved from a corner booth, laptop open, highlighter between teeth.Red beanie today—signal flare.I slid in opposite her, balancing the tray on sticky laminate.
“Your text said, ‘emergency caloric intake.’“ I unwrapped a cracker.“I brought sodium.”
“You’re a prince.”She set the highlighter down.“You sleep?”
“Define sleep.”
“REM cycles where your face looks less haunted.”
“Then no.”
She eyed the hoodie.“Wardrobe change?”
“Laundry backlog.”I stirred the soup.Broccoli cheddar clung to the spoon.
Maya flipped her laptop shut, attention fully mine—terrifying upgrade.“You’re humming.”
“I don’t hum.”
“You are today—that guy fromFrozenin the sauna scene.”
“I don’t know the reference.”
“Sure.”She rested her chin on both fists.“Something happened.”
“Many things happen every day.”
“Specific thing.”She tapped the hoodie cuff.“Spill.”
