Page 118 of In Sheets of Rain

“You in a hurry?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“I’ll grab a coffee, and we can catch up.”

“Aren’t you on your way to work?” I asked, taking in his uniform.

“Yeah, but there’s time.”

I found us an empty table and took a seat, watching the pedestrians out of the window. Everything looked the same and also different.

Sometimes going back was not as good as you’d think.

I sipped my drink and settled my heartbeat, counting quietly inside my head with every breath.

Neal slipped into the seat opposite me and smiled.

“So, what’s up?” he asked.

I looked at him. He smiled at me. And then I said, “I seem to be away from my home more often than I’m in it.”

“All those sales trips, huh?”

“Yeah. How about you guys?”

“Painted the house,” he said, and I laughed. “What’s funny?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I said, shaking my head and smiling.

He looked at me, and I smiled at him.

And then he said, “I think I understand you, now, Kylee.”

“What?”

“I understand you,” he said. “I know why you had to leave the Service.”

I almost squeezed my coffee cup so tight that it burst.

“Yeah?” I managed.

“Yeah,” he said. “You care too much.”

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