Luis rose, dark-haired, lean but not slight, and with an ease about him, a quiet confidence I’d always admired.
“Of course.” I shook his hand. “Good to see you again.”
Luis smiled. “You too. Cole’s been talking about you.”
I glanced at Cole. “I’m not sure whether to be flattered or concerned.”
“Flattered,” Cole said immediately. “Obviously.” They retook their seats, and Cole gestured for me to join them. I ordered a coffee, and while I waited for it to arrive, I studied them.
They’re a good fit.
It was there in the way Cole leaned in without thinking, Luis’s hand settled easily at the back of his chair. The quiet, unspoken rhythm between them.
He’s happy.
“You look well,” I told him.
Cole’s smile was pure magic. “I am.”
Luis squeezed Cole’s knee, and Cole glanced at him, something warm passing between them.
I looked away, giving them the space without making a point of it.
“So…” Cole picked up his coffee. “How was Rome?”
“Productive,” I said. “And tedious.”
“Of course it was. Did you do any sightseeing?”
I laughed. “Are you kidding? Excessive heat and crowds of tourists arenota good combination. Besides, I wanted to get back here for Folsom.”
“Wise decision,” Cole said. He paused, then stared at me, his head in that familiar tilt. “You okay?”
I met his inquiring gaze. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Cole didn’t break eye contact, and I sensed what he struggled to put into words. “You were right to leave,” I said quietly. “We wanted different things. That’s all.”
He exhaled, and I was relieved to see the last trace of tension leave him. He gave a small, wry smile. “Yeah. Turns out I’m more Sunday mornings than Saturday nights.”
I chuckled. “There’s nothing wrong with Sunday mornings.”
“Not with the right person.” Cole glanced at Luis, who smiled back at him.
Something settled in my chest, and I recognised it instantly. It wasn’t loss, but closure.
“I’m glad,” I said simply.
My coffee arrived, and the conversation shifted easily after that: work, travel, small stories from the past week. I gazed at the passersby, and in the distance two figures caught my attention. One was an older man I’d seen around Schöneberg. Then I stilled.
The other looked like Kieran.
Then they disappeared from view.
“Where did you just go?” Cole demanded. I turned my head in his direction, and his eyes gleamed. “Okay, who did you see?”
I laughed. “You know me far too well.”
Luis checked his watch. “We should go.”