We worked in silence for a moment, replacing the cracked coupling. The morning sun warmed my wet shirt, which was starting to feel less like a cold slap and more just uncomfortable.
“So.” I tightened the connection. “What made last night so fun that you needed sunglasses at dawn?”
“Trailhead Brewery.” She handed me another coupling. “Emily Spencer and Abby Griffin invited me.”
I paused mid-twist. “You already know people here?”
“I spent summers here as a kid. They remembered me.” She shrugged. “Emily found me having a minor breakdown in my truck and decided I needed drinks.”
“Minor breakdown?”
“Well.” She gave me a pointed look. “Someone was condescending to me about my ability to help with anything. So I had a small crisis about whether moving here was a terrible mistake.”
Heat crawled up my neck. “Rosie?—”
“We had many pitchers of beer, which was exactly what I needed.” She selected another coupling from the box, examining it.
“I really was an idiot yesterday.”
“Yes, you were.” She handed me the coupling. “But you're here now, soaking wet and fixing my irrigation system. I suppose you're making up for it.”
I moved to the second coupling, testing the connection. “I'm glad you have good friends.”
Friends who didn't make her question herself. Friends who helped instead of pushing her away.
Unlike me.
“They're great.” Rosie sorted through the box again, pulling out a smaller coupling. “Emily's blunt, Abby's sweet. They balance each other out.” She glanced at me. “What about you? Who do you hang out with in town?”
I focused on loosening the damaged fitting. “I don't really.”
“Oh.” She nodded, understanding in her voice. “Well, you've only been here a few months, right? Takes time to build friendships.”
“Four years.”
She blinked. “What?”
“I've been here four years.” I moved to the third coupling, not looking at her. “Bought the practice from Dr. Hammond when he retired.”
Silence.
I glanced up. She was staring at me, mouth slightly open.
“Fouryears?”
“Yes.”
“And you don't hang out with anyone?”
“I work.” I focused on the damaged fitting, trying to loosen it without cracking the pipe. “Don't have much time for socializing.”
“Cal.” She set down the box of couplings. “Four years is a long time to not have friends.”
“I have Sharon.”
“Your receptionist.”
“She's—” I paused. “We're friendly.”
