“Great job today!” I said to the departing cycler before turning back to Finn. “You’re the last person I expected to see in my class. Are you back in the city or just visiting for the day?” I cringed inwardly. Did I sound as awkward as I felt?

He scrubbed a hand through his matted hair. “Is this a bad time? Can we talk?”

“Here?”

“I was thinking we could get coffee or a drink.”

“Pinkie’s or Brothers?” A nervous chuckle bubbled out of me. “Kidding. Docks is next door, but we’re a little too sweaty, I think. The Black Sheep is a few blocks away. It’s a dive.”

“Sounds good.”

“I just need a few minutes to…um…” I was desperate to do something with my hair and put on some lip gloss, but I couldn’t tell him that. “Pee.”

“Take your time. I’ll be out here regaining my strength after your class.” The playful expression on his face captured a glimpse of the “old” Finn and the way he used to look at me.

I couldn’t not smile at that. “’Kay.”

In the crowded locker room, I scrounged for an open spot where I could recapture my wits in peace. Finn was here. But it didn’t mean we were on the same page. It was too soon to get excited or get my hopes up. He might have interpreted the ending of my story as a one-sided apology where I conceded to being exclusively in the wrong.

I walked over to the mirror. My exercise clothes would have to do, since I’d planned on going straight home after class and hadn’t brought a change of clothes to shower here. I removed my hair from the rubber band and flipped it up and down before brushing it straight. It had more lumps than homemade mashed potatoes. I brushed it back into a long, tight ponytail, dabbed some lip balm from my tube of Kiehl’s, and frowned at my reflection in the mirror. I’d have answers to all my questions and more in just a few minutes, and how I looked wouldn’t change any of them.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Forty-Nine

The Black Sheep was crowded and smelled like buffalo sauce. Over the din of the football game playing out on the numerous television sets over the bar, I said, “A far cry from Brothers Brewery, huh?”

“You referring to the patrons?” Finn gestured at the twentysomethings still dressed up in “work” clothes. “Or the fact that there’s more than two beers on tap?”

“Both.” I found an opening at the bar and made eye contact with the bartender. I smiled in acknowledgment of her “one second” gesture. “I can’t imagine Greg and Aaron wasting all these pennies either,” I said, motioning to the copper coins that lined the entire length of the bar.

“The cousins miss you.”