Page 8 of Fall Twice

“Which makes it even more surprising that you’re here. Wouldn’t you want to live in the big bad city with an option of women?” She folds her arms over her chest as she teases me.

“Nah, I enjoy my coffee in peace these days.”

She grins so big that it’s almost infectious as her eyes raise to me. “As long as you haven’t slept with a student.”

I scoff at her suggestion. “Please, I’m not that stupid. But happy to hear your opinions of me are so honorable,” I say, sarcastic.

“Okay, okay. I guess we have a lot of years to catch up on,” she comments as she touches a bracelet on her wrist.

“Then let’s start from the beginning,” I suggest, with her eyes landing on my own.

And with time stopping, we both talk about our lives. After graduation, Lena worked in a marketing job that she hated, met her husband at the gym, and followed him to Maryland for his job. Except for Annie, she didn’t feel at home there, so she wanted a change. And here she is, because she applied for jobs that would be near where Oscar’s father will work when he comes back from Tokyo, and also because Oscar’s grandparents from his father live a few hours away and she is still closer to them than her own folks.

Me? I did my PhD and got into teaching. I’ve lived a few locations, but I’ve been here for a few years, and my ex is walking somewhere around the state, but I have no contact with her.

Lena’s face lights up every time she talks about her son, and she leans in to show me a photo of her little boy. He has the eyes of the woman whose hair smells of macadamia, whose back I’m touching as if I have every right to.

“Then there was this time when I completely went ballistic at the mom at the soccer game. I mean, they were only four and she was acting like they were training for the World Cup.” She looks up at me and stops. “Oh, sorry, I’m blabbing about mom stuff. You’re not a kid person, I know. Anyway, I swear, I’ve acquired other skills over the years. I’m a pro at conquering any Ottolenghi recipe or distinguishing cheap white wine from expensive.” She’s rambling, and my smile doesn’t fade.

She notices that I’m just watching her. “You okay?”

Clearing my throat, I straighten up my posture and release my hand from her back, breaking our connection. “Totally.”

Lena snorts at my response. “Years may have changed us, but in no universe would you say totally.”

Completely right.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Okay, you got me. It’s just surreal sitting here, you know?”

She touches my thigh in a friendly way. “Yeah, I know.” Her voice is nearly delicate.

The barista slowly walks to us with an awkward look. “Sorry, but we kind of need you two to finish up because we’re closing.”

“Shit,” I say and look at my watch. “It’s almost eight.”

We’ve been sitting here for hours, just talking about our lives and random things.

Lena grabs her sweater. “Wow, I had no idea of the time. For sure, we’ll finish up.”

I go and pay the bill, to her protest, and we gather our stuff. Meeting outside, we stand under the streetlight and look at one another.

“Want me to give you a ride?” I offer as I hold up my car key.

She shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. I have my rental car.”

Something inside of me keeps holding onto this moment; I don’t want it to end.

Because in truth, I’ve been lonely lately. Most of my friends are colleagues who either spend their days on research papers or with their growing families. My own family is a two-hour plane ride away, and I’ve filled my days with a routine.

But the last few hours, I’ve come out of a shell that I didn’t realize I was in, and if this is what feeling alive is, then I should probably prolong it.

We step toward one another and wrap our arms around each other for a hug, the kind you should have when you reunite with an old friend, and I feel her relax in my hold, even when I hug her tighter.

This moment can’t end, but right now it feels like this was the way our night should close.

She gently pulls back. “It was good to see you again.”

“Likewise.”

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