I knew she still danced, but I didn’t realize she created her own space to do so. And I didn’t know she was going to Juilliard before the accident. We continue to watch Amelia as she spins, jumps, and moves. Even without hearing the music, her body tells a story and I think I could spend all day right here. She’s mesmerizing. When Lizzie sighs after seeing Amelia do a twisting jump thing, I look over at her and am surprised by the frown on her face.
“What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head and purses her lips. “She’s going to hurt herself trying to land that move.”
“That jump thing? I thought it looked good.”
“That’s because you didn’t see what it looked like before that fucking car hit her. What she’s doing now is just a fraction of what she could do before. And not just that move, I mean everything. She could do this shit in her sleep, and now she has to fight for every little thing.”
Sighing again, she finally moves to step out of the car and walks toward the coffee shop next door. I follow.
“This is where you work, right?”
“Yeah. I know it’s kind of silly to still work here after college, but I love it. I love chatting with the customers and their brightening days. Plus, I get to work with Gloria. And Haven sometimes. She mostly works at the bowling alley her family owns, but comes in for a few hours a week.”
“Not silly at all, kiddo.”
“I just… I don’t know what else I want to do yet,” Lizzie says with a shrug.
The little bell above the door jingles as we walk in, and the woman behind the counter grins at us. “There’s my girl! I was hoping you’d show up today. And you brought that hunk of a man that you must take after, since you sure as hell aren’t much like your mama.” She comes around the counter, pulls Lizzie in for a hug, and then does the same with me. “Oh, my,” she sighs, gently squeezing my biceps.
“Gloria, let him go. He’s taken. Kind of. His heart belongs to another and I’m not going to rest until he wins her back.”
“Sounds like a story I want to hear. Is it safe to assume the large drip with room that Minnie’s been ordering is yours?” Gloria asks me as she moves back behind the counter.
“Yes, ma’am, it is.”
“Oh, and he has manners, too. Tell me, who is this lucky woman who needs to be won?”
“It’s a long story,” I reply.
Lizzie scoffs, then laughs when I scowl at her.
Gloria levels me with a hard glare. “You gonna get your girl back?”
“I’m trying, but she’s stubborn.”
“The good ones usually are.” She winks at me as she hands me my coffee.
“Did Minnie come in already?” Lizzie asks.
“Of course. She’ll be back in when she’s done next door, and no, you aren’t allowed to bring her a second coffee because that means she won’t come over herself and give me another hug.”
Lizzie rolls her eyes. “Alright, fine. Did she get a pastry yet?”
“Not yet, sugar.”
Lizzie looks over the glass case for a minute while Gloria finishes her drink. “Hmm…no fritters, so I guess we’ll take three of the bear claws.”
“That girl’s passed up the fritters every damn time I’ve had them since she’s been home,” Gloria says.
Shit. They’re her favorites, no matter the flavor, but I’ve ruined them for her.
Lizzie takes the bag and her coffee, a thoughtful look on her face. “Huh, weird. But she’s been weird since she called me drunk at the airport, so I’m not really totally surprised.” Luckily, she doesn’t seem to realize she just kicked me in the gut, metaphorically at least. I hate that I hurt Amelia so fucking much. “Anyway, see you Thursday, Glo.”
“You bring your daddy around as often as you can.”
When we step outside, Lizzie turns to me with a wicked smile. “At least you know you have options if it doesn’t work out with your secretary.”
