Something In Between: Sequel to On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 16

Billy kept his word and didn't tempt me with calls or texts. Painful weeks turned into duller months. It was easier once school started again; I had something to focus on aside from my disastrous love life. It was my senior year. I had enough to do than to think of Billy or anyone else, for that matter. And yet my resolve to forsake love was foiled by lunch.

It was the first bitter day in early October. The bite in the breeze surprised me, as the day had the sunny illusion of the warmer summer days that had just barely passed. But as I stepped to the sidewalk outside the library, the wind whipped through my thin coat. The cold decided where I should get lunch. I trudged across the street to the Public Market House as my mind fixated on the warmth of sweet potato corn chowder mixed with jalapeno cheddar soup. From the snaking line around the cramped space, I wasn't the only one surprised by the day's chill. And I wasn't the only one looking to warm up with soup.

I settled into the line behind two high school students babbling about their upcoming Homecoming dance and flicked through my phone until, finally, it was my turn.

"I've got hers," a voice from behind me stuck a credit card between the cashier and me.

"I..." I protested when I lifted my eyes to see the boyish grin of Sam.

"First class," he nodded. His voice was as toying as it had been the first time we met.

He was standing there with his perfectly disheveled chocolate hair leading into a conscious level of scruff.

"Great minds," he smiled, nodding to the menu.

"Sam," I coolly greeted. I had to remind myself that the lingering theory that exes can't be friends wasn't why I tore myself from Billy, but as Sam stood before me, it crackled in my tone.

"Lily," he countered, as though I had accused him of not remembering my name. "I hear the sweet potato corn chowder and jalapeno cheddar mix are exquisite here."

The cashier gaped between us as though witnessing a Hallmark movie meet-cute play before her.

"Thank you." My words came awkwardly, and I quickly turned away to escape the situation.

"Woah, wait. Hey!" He called after me as he grabbed at his soup.

My mind screamed to keep walking, but my body had other plans, pulling me to a halt.

"Join me for lunch?" Some of his confidence had drained from his words.

I had every intention of declining. So many apparent excuses came to mind, but when I opened my mouth, out popped, "sure." I immediately cursed myself.

We settled into a tiny table by the window. The day's cold was seeping in, causing me to hug my cardboard soup bowl closer and bow further into the table. Sam absently did the same, pulling us too close because of the small table we attempted to share.

"So, any recent first-class adventures?" He began as he popped off the top of his soup.

"Nope, I think my first-class days are behind me." As Billy flashed through my mind, my words came out with an unintended sigh.

"So the friends thing went well?" A knowing tease saturated his voice, causing me to bristle with annoyance. He must have seen it flash across my face because he quickly added, "I'm kinda sorry to hear that."

"Kinda?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well, I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. But I'm eager to learn of the possibilities." The twinkle of jest danced in his eye.

"Possibilities?"

"You know, the possibility of a handsome stranger mending a broken heart."

"I don't need someone to mend my broken heart." My voice came low and filled with irritation. "And I don't see any handsome strangers around here," I added as I theatrically glanced around the room.

A moment of genuine wound passed over his face before he wiped it away with false confidence. "How about a not-as-funny-as-he-thinks average-looking guy gets half a chance?"

"What does half a chance look like? Soup in a crowded public market?" I tried to soften my voice, acknowledging that he was pretty charming and had nothing to do with the demise of Billy and me.

"Have a drink with me; you choose the location, the time, everything. I'll humbly arrive and, if you allow it, pay."

"Humbly, I feel like you couldn't be humble if you wanted to." I let a smile flicker across my lips for his benefit.

"I can be humble, but overly confident is much more fun." He smiled, sensing that the conversation was tipping in his direction.

"Is it now?" A genuine laugh bubbled from within me.

"Oh yeah, it's like those videos online of the adorable baby animal that has just learned to walk but is still all tipsy. The little guy always has the confidence to run and then falls all over the place. It's delightful."

I nodded vacantly at his example.

"Oh, come on, you have to have a favorite; raccoon in a bucket, the puppy with a balloon, kitten in a box? These are classics."

"I don't watch many online videos," I admitted.

"Yeah, but you must see them when you scroll through Instagram or TikTok?" He surveyed my face for a moment. "Twitter?" Still, a stone face from me propelled him. "Wow, Facebook?"

"Sorry, I'm a social media virgin. I'm not too fond of the idea of the whole construct. Why would I want someone I knew at summer camp ten years ago to know what I'm having for dinner today?"

"Fair, but don't you feel you're missing out?" A level of intrigue on Sam's face pulled him closer to me.

"Not really. Conversely, I don't care what some random person I met ten years ago is having for dinner, although raccoon in a bucket is slightly interesting," I admitted.

"Huh, can I ask you a very serious question then?"

I could tell from his tone that it was a less-than-serious question bubbling in his mind. "Sure, go on," I agreed.

"How do you check in on the ex?"

"What?" I let out an awkward laugh as panic filled me. He couldn't have figured out who Billy was from our plane conversation.

"Oh, come on. It's human nature; you have to check in on the ex to see who is winning the breakup." A mischievous level in his eyes made me realize he had no idea whom Billy was while also forgiving his assertion's absurdity.

"Winning the breakup?" Another unstifled laugh rolled from me.

"Yeah, you know, who's faring better?"

I didn't need social media to know what Billy was up to; quite the opposite. I avoided social and entertainment media in general to avoid updates on Billy. Still, as he popped into my head again, I couldn't help but hope that he was winning the breakup.

"I guess my mind doesn't work that way. I suppose I'm broken." My tone came out a bit more somber than I'd intended.

"I don't believe that not stalking someone makes you broken." Tease and soothe filled Sam's voice.

"Root Wild," I added as I picked up the empty remnants of my lunch.

"Huh?" He said as my movement broke him from the spell of our conversation.

"I choose Root Wild. It's on Washington. Are you free tonight, say 6 pm?" I absently added, fully expecting the laugh of rejection.

"I'll be there, with bells on," he smiled, with a level of relief that satisfied a vain part of myself I had forgotten.

"No bells or knobs needed," I corrected.

Sam cocked his head in confusion.

"Nothing, just the phrase," I mumbled to myself. Billy would've caught the reference. He would've slightly shaken his head as though it was too cheesy, but the dimples would've shown he was pleased with the reference.

"Okay, then, I'll see you tonight at 6 pm with no bells, nor knobs, not even a whistle."

I gave him a nod as we went our separate ways. While I settled back into my favorite nook at the library, I felt a smile on my face. I was looking forward to seeing Sam again. I exhaled a knot that had been in my chest for months. I was excited to be excited.