I turn in the direction of the voice, still trying to place it.
A couple crosses the room, followed by a second. They’re all wearing ski gear, complete with neck gaiters and hats, so it’s hard to recognize any of them. The male half of the second couple touches the shoulder of the first and says something, looking confused. The man who called to me glances over his shoulder to respond, then turns back and continues towards me and Caleb.
It’s only once they’re a few tables away that I realize who he is.
“Tom?” Of all the places I could have imagined seeing my old classmate, this is the last of them. “What are you doing here?”
Tom closes the distance between us, urging the woman by his side along with him. She eyes me with suspicion, then clasps her gloved hand around his like she’s placing her claim.
Don’t worry,I want to assure her. Aside from studying with Tom a few times—in a group, no less—I’ve never spent any significant time with him, and I don’t plan to.
Not that there’s anything wrong with him. Butaside from living in two different states, he’s not my type at all. Tom is slender and blonde and I justknowhe uses product in his hair. Not like Caleb, who’s the complete opposite, and muchmore to my taste.
“Vienna,” he repeats once he reaches the table. “I couldn’t believe it when I came in and saw you. It’s been ages. And in this little nothing town, no less.”
“It’s not anothingtown.” It comes out defensively, so I add with a quick smile, “I’m living here now. What about you?”
“Ski trip,” he replies. “Since there’s a fresh coat of snow, we thought we’d head up to Stowe for the weekend. Get some runs in, hit some of the local bars…”
The woman beside him edges closer, so she’s pressed flush against him. “We’re renting a cabin right near the base of the mountain. It has an indoor plunge pool and a sauna.”
“That’s nice,” I tell her, for lack of anything better to say.
“Hello.” Caleb sticks out his hand, his gaze fixed on Tom’s. “I’m Caleb. And you are?”
My cheeks go hot. “Sorry. I should have introduced…” I turn to Tom first. “This is Caleb. A—” What? Friend? Acquaintance? Benefactor? “Friend,” I finish. Then I turn back to Caleb. “And this is Tom. We used to be classmates.”
“Classmates?” Caleb asks.
“A paramedic course we were taking,” Tom supplies. He smiles. “I’ll be done in May. Already been in touch with a few municipalities about starting with them in the summer.”
Gesturing at the woman next to him, he adds, “This is Frieda. And these two behind me are Kale and Molly. They just started the paramedic program this semester.”
“Not me,” Frieda interjects. “Blood makes me queasy.”
Caleb gives her a long look. “Then I guess being a paramedic wouldn’t be the best career choice.”
“So,” Tom says. “Vienna. Are you going to start back with the program again?” He glances beneath the table at my legs. “Your leg all better yet?”
“It’s getting there,” I reply. My smile feels frozen. It’s easier to ignore everything I lost when one of the reminders isn’t standing in front of me.
“Tom.” The man standing behind Tom taps his shoulder. “We’ve got reservations at two. If we want to get there in time, we need to get going.”
“Right.” Tom makes an apologetic face. “We just stopped in for some cookies. But we should get going.”
“Okay.” I steal another quick glance at Caleb. But his expression gives away nothing. “Enjoy your skiing trip.”
Tom nods. “Take care. And if you need anything, you’ve got my number.” Then he turns and heads in the direction of the counter, followed by his friends.
I’m not sorry to see him go. If I’m being honest, I wish I’d never run into him to begin with. And not just because it reminds me of the paramedic program I had to drop out of, but because it cut into my time with Caleb.
Caleb and I don’t talk until Tom leaves the bakery.Instead, I nibble at my croissant while Caleb stares into his coffee. His silence makes me feel like I did something wrong, though I can’t think of what.
I’m just about to suggest taking the rest of our food to go when Caleb asks, “You wanted to be a paramedic?”
I put my sandwich down. “I did. I was halfway through my coursework when I broke my leg. I couldn’t get to class, so I had to withdraw for the semester.”
“And after that?”
