That café sat forty minutes past school grounds. Enough distance kept faces we knew out of sight. Near enough, though, to say we were just passing through town should anyone ask. We picked it for how it balanced near and far.
Finding him first - he sat tucked away, spine against plaster. Not surprising. Never reckless.
There he sat when I took the chair opposite. Hello," I told him, voice breaking the quiet between us.
"Hey." He looked at me slowly, as if storing every detail. "I'm glad you're here."
"You asked me to."
"I wasn't sure you would. After the dean's warning."
That promise stayed in the air, heavy. Whenever you ask, I show up.
His arm stretched over the plates, fingers almost brushing mine - then froze mid-air. He drew his hand away slowly. A pause settled before he said we should figure out some boundaries
