“Why?” I ask cautiously.
“Because I’m not going to let you sit there feeling like this all day,” he says. “Even the time it takes me to get to you feels too long.”
His words land differently. Softer. Grounding.
It eases something tight in my chest.
“It’s ok, Zane. You really don’t have to,” I reply.
“It was near the pharmacy, right?”
“Well… I’m at work right now,” I tell him.
“Ok. Meet me outside in five.”
“It really isn’t necessary.”
“I’ll be there in five,” he repeats, and the line goes dead.
I lower the phone slowly.
“Everything good?” Tess asks, poking her head into the alley.
“Zane’s coming over in five. He wants to talk face to face.”
“Good,” she says with a small smile.
I follow her back inside.
Inside, I move quickly, wiping down the counter, trying to stay busy, trying not to think.
The bell above the door rings.
My stomach flips instantly.
I run a hand through my hair and take a steady breath.
“Hi,” I say, unsure where this is going.
I’ve already decided that if Zane tries to explain why he didn’t want to be seen with me, I’m going to stop him. I can’t handle that conversation here. Not like this. Not in front of people. Not in front of him.
“Hey,” Zane replies, scratching the back of his neck.
I grab two coffees without saying a word, then lead him toward the alley.
“Here,” I say, handing him one.
“Thanks.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral.
Zane takes a moment, taking in the space, the cracked walls, the dumpsters, the quiet edges of the building.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about how things ended last night,” he says.
Something in my chest loosens slightly.
“I really enjoyed getting to know you,” he adds, looking back at me with a small smile. “I still have so many questions.”
