"Thirty years," Piper repeated, something wistful in her tone. "That's rare."
"Not in my family," Zach said. "My grandparents made it to fifty-two before Babushka's 'ceremonial fire' claimed my grandfather."
Piper nearly choked on her Coke. "Wait, what?"
"I'm kidding," Zach assured her with a laugh. "He died peacefully in his sleep."
"Your family is..."
"Complicated? Completely nuts?"
"I was going to say 'passionate,'" Piper said, instead.
The band launched into a more upbeat number, and the dance floor quickly filled with a more enthusiastic crowd.
"I should probably head out," Piper said, reassembling everything back into the breadbasket. "It's getting late and all."
"Of course," Zach started to stand.
"Thank you for tonight. For the rescue from the AV room and for..." She gestured vaguely between them. "This. It's been fun."
"Fun enough to do it again sometime?" Zach asked, trying to keep his tone casual.
Her eyes met his, and for a moment, the same electric connection that had sparked between them on the dance floor flared again.
She nodded. "I'd like that a lot."
They moved through the happy disorder of the bar in a quiet space carved out just for the two of them and pushed through the heavy wooden door.
Outside, the night air was cool and crisp, a welcome contrast to the warmth of the bar. Streetlamps cast circles of light onto the sidewalk as they walked toward the parking lot.
"My car's over there," Piper said, gesturing to a sensible midsize sedan parked beneath a streetlight.
"I'll walk you," Zach offered.
They moved in comfortable silence, shoulders occasionally brushing in a way that felt both casual and charged with possibility.
At her car, Piper turned to face him, her expression unreadable in the shadows. "Well, this is me."
"Drive safe," Zach said, suddenly reluctant to end the evening. "Text me when you get there?"
She blinked, as if surprised by the request. "I will."
"The night's not over yet," he said, quickly, while he had the courage. "Unless you want it to be?"
She shook her head, pulling her bottom lip under her teeth. "Do you?"
"No," he said, then added, "You could come home with me instead?" He gestured to his car across the lot.
Piper raised an eyebrow. "That's quite the pivot. From safety PSA to sleepover invitation."
"I contain multitudes," he deadpanned, letting his gaze drag slowly over her before meeting her eyes again.
She tilted her head, playful now. "Do any of those multitudes include snacks?"
"I've got leftover Thai and a full, unopened bag of kettle corn," he said, voice casual until it dipped lower. "But if you're wondering what else is on the menu? Well, that's negotiable."
Piper raised an eyebrow, lips curving. "You should've led with the kettle corn."
