That was the cruel thing about survival. It didn't promise clarity. You made it through the wave, sure, but then you had to live in the after. With the silence. With yourself.
Was this how her love story ended? Alone, on a step, waiting.
The sound of footsteps made her tense. She didn't look up. Didn't want to hope it was him.
"Everyone's looking for you."
That voice. She'd know it anywhere, even flattened by exhaustion. Piper lifted her gaze slowly, reluctantly.
"Literally, everyone. Heather and Jase, Sadie and Roman, Mom and Dad. Babushka. Even Tess and Noah. Shelby. They're all out ready to find you." Zach stood at the bottom of the steps, hair disheveled, his blue hoodie wrinkled like he'd balled it up and shoved it in a gym bag. He held two coffees and a brown pastry bag with grease stains blooming at the bottom.
"Babushka told you where to find me?" she asked.
"No." He drew his eyebrows together. "Did you talk to her?"
"Yes."
"How did she find you?"
Piper shrugged. "How does she do anything?"
"One of life's mysteries." He didn't hesitate, just climbed the steps and lowered himself beside her like he'd done it a thousand times. Like this was their spot. Like of course he'd find her here.
"I'm not ready to be found, yet," she said, her voice small and raw.
"That's cool." He held out a coffee and the bag. "You've already got your coffee. But here's a spare."
Piper glanced at her untouched cup. "Mine's cold."
"Mine's not."
The silence between them hummed with everything unsaid. She didn't take the coffee right away. Then she did, and the bag, too. She peeked inside.
"It's a croissant but not almond. I asked twice," he said. "I figured you are still on the outs with that particular nut."
That bought him a grin. She reached in and pulled out not just the promised pastry, but a small package of bubble gum. Pink like what she'd stepped in that first day. She held it up, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged. "Seemed like a good idea."
"I can't believe you came," she said quietly, the words scraping her throat.
Zach's eyes met hers, clear and steady. "I don't give up on the people I love, even if they want me to."
Her heart stuttered. She looked away, unwrapping the croissant with fingers that suddenly felt clumsy. "I went to Brek's."
"Yeah?"
"He had thoughts."
"He always does." Zach's mouth curved into a small smile.
She bit into the croissant, letting the buttery flakes dissolve on her tongue.
"For what it's worth, Tess's intern arranged for a photographer to catch the honeymooners for PR. Hoping for something romantic, but the guy caught them mid-squabble about a pillow."
"A pillow," Piper repeated flatly.
"Drake stole the good pillow. Apparently, this is a thing."
