desertion

68

MILES

I leaned against the counter, my eyes fixed on Lydia as she walked through the pizzeria door. She looked exhausted, her eyes dull and glazed over, with heavy bags beneath them. Her steps were slow and mechanical as she headed toward the back to clock in.

Delilah greeted her with her usual enthusiasm. "Hey, Lyds. You ready for another shift?"

Lydia barely nodded, her response delayed and devoid of energy. She didn't say a word, just swiped her card at the time clock and moved past Delilah, her shoulders slumping.

My chest tightened at the sight of her. I could tell she hadn't slept, and guilt churned in my stomach. Tyler appeared beside me, leaning on the counter with a questioning glance.

"What's going on with her?" Tyler asked, his voice low.

I sighed, my gaze still on Lydia as she disappeared into the kitchen. "We got into an argument last night."

Tyler's eyebrows shot up. "You two? Really?"

I nodded grimly. "I said some things I shouldn't have."

"What happened?" Tyler asked, crossing his arms.

I hesitated for a moment before spilling everything. "We were driving back from her dad's fire station, and I brought up how she doesn't let anyone help her. I told her she acts like caring about her is a crime... and that she doesn't care about herself."

Tyler winced slightly. "Yikes."

I shook my head. "It's not the first time we've argued over this, either. But last night... I think I went too far."

Tyler gave a small shrug. "I mean, you're not wrong. She does act like that. Maybe she needed to hear it."

"Maybe," I admitted. "But I don't think I said it the right way."

Tyler considered it for a minute before offering, "I could ask Delilah to talk to her. She and Lydia are pretty close."

I shook my head quickly. "No. I need to fix this. I'll talk to her during closing."

Tyler nodded, patting me on the shoulder before grabbing a rag and heading toward the tables to start cleaning. I took a deep breath and headed toward the front, putting on a smile for the customers as I began taking orders.

********

The shift passed slowly. Lydia spent most of her time in the kitchen, silently making orders, while I handled the front. I caught myself glancing toward the kitchen every so often, worried about her. She worked efficiently but seemed detached, her usual energy absent.

As closing time rolled around, the atmosphere in the pizzeria quieted. I found Lydia near the sink, scrubbing a tray with mechanical precision. I grabbed a rag and started wiping down the counters beside her.

For a while, neither of us spoke, the silence only broken by the occasional clatter of utensils and the hum of the kitchen fan. Finally, Lydia broke the tension.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, not looking up from the tray she was scrubbing.

I froze mid-wipe, my eyes widening in surprise. "What?"

"I'm sorry," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "For last night."

I sat the rag down and turned to face her fully. "Lydia, it wasn't your fault. It was mine. I shouldn't have said those things or talked to you like that."

She shook her head, still not meeting my gaze. "No, you had a right to. I just... I don't know. I'm trying to be better at letting people in, but it's hard."

I sighed, stepping closer. "I know it's hard. But you don't have to do it all at once. And you don't have to do it alone."

Lydia finally looked up at me, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "I just don't want to be a burden to anyone."

"You're not a burden," I said firmly. "You're important to me, to your dad, to Chris—hell, even to Delilah and Tyler. We all care about you. And we just want to help."

She sniffled, a tear escaping down her cheek. "I just don't want to feel like this anymore. Like I'm broken."

I stepped forward and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're not broken, Lyds. You're human. And you're allowed to feel whatever you're feeling. But you don't have to hide it from everyone."

Lydia let out a shaky breath, nodding slowly. "I'll try."

"That's all I'm asking," I said with a small smile.

She gave me a faint smile in return, wiping her face with the sleeve of her sweater. "I guess I owe you another apology for being mad at you earlier."

I chuckled softly. "I deserved it. But we're okay, right?"

"Yeah," Lydia said, her smile growing a little stronger. "We're okay."

I pulled her into a gentle hug, and for the first time all day, I felt her body relax.

********

As we finished cleaning, Delilah popped her head into the kitchen. "You two good in here? Or do I need to play therapist?"

I laughed. "We're good."

"Good," Delilah said.