“Healing,” I said. “Better.”
“Good. The usual?”
I thought about it for a moment. “Yes.”
She nodded once and disappeared into the back, emerging moments later with a drink in hand. I thanked her.
I took a sip, listening to the chatter, the door chime as customers came and left, the muted honking and dogs barking in the street. It was a regular day for anyone else. For Deb and Quinn, tonight would be the first of many dates. I wondered if it would play out the way I’d imagined, or if they would make their own path to happiness.
Coco placed a plate in front of me, spice and savory rolling up to my nose with the steam. “Oh, my God. That smells so good. Thank you, Coco.”
“Of course. Hopefully it will clear out soon. I’m dying to catch up.”
“Yeah. That would be really great,” I said, grateful for the potential company. It had been a long time since I’d had to eat alone. At least, it felt that way.
I absentmindedly poked at the rice with my fork, watching the world carry on outside the large window. Traffic splashed into view, disappearing just as quickly.
A white sack hit the table in front of me, crinkling in the grip of a man’s hand. I startled, and then my gaze traveled up to the wrist, stopping on a loose hospital bracelet. The tiny letters compiled a lot of information: date of birth, blood type, but it was the name that left me frozen.
Avery, Josh.
I sucked in a sharp gasp and held it, hoping if I had somehow drifted back into unconsciousness, I wouldn’t wake from this moment.
“Eating alone?” he asked.
My eyes followed the arm up to the shoulder, the neck, the gaunt, but familiar eyes. Josh. My Josh. He was looking down at me with an exhausted but sweet half smile, flattening his other hand on the table to steady his weak legs.
His eyebrow rose as he waited for me to respond.
I looked down at my rice and back to him, terrified for half a second that he wouldn’t be there. But he was. He moved as a customer accidentally bumped into him, muttering an apology before moving on.
“I’m sorry?” I asked.
“Eating alone?”
My heart throbbed at the sound of his voice. It was exactly as I had remembered. I pressed my lips together, and then smiled as tears clouded my vision.
“Pathetic, isn’t it?” I asked past the lump in my throat.
“Oh, I don’t know. I think it’s kind of romantic.”
THE END