“I’m not seeing anyone, no,” I say. I hesitate, then decide to share a little more. “But that’s kind of why I moved back to Greenwood. I was in a relationship in LA, and then it ended.”

I consider telling him more about my breakup with Tyler, but decide against it. That conversation would require exposing too much of myself. I don’t need Ryan to see the raw, messy bits of my life. It’s better that he think of me only as a stellar coach or maybe even as someone he might start to like. There’s no use ruining that impression.

Ryan nods and sips his beer. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Maybe I’m imagining it, but whatever glimmer of potential there was between us before, it’s hardened now. His jaw sets a millimeter tighter than it did before. Is he calculating how long I’ve been back in town and how quickly a person can get over heartbreak?

“It was… it was for the best,” I say. “It was time. We should’ve broken up long before we actually did.”

I’ve never said that out loud, but it’s the truth. I’ve always been conscious of the fact that Tyler pulled me out of a dangerous spiral; I know he was so damn good for me when we met. But we both changed. We grew apart. And just because I’m grateful for how he was back then doesn’t mean I owe him forever. The idea is strangely energizing. I’ve been leaning one lazy hip against the kitchen counter, and I straighten up to my full height.

“You’re a fighter,” he says serenely. “You’ll get back out there in no time.”

A fighter. I can’t remember the last time someone called me that. It’s been ages since I deserved that compliment. It feels good to be seen that way.

“Yeah, I know,” I say, testing out what it’s like to accept praise. Not bad.

Ryan digs through an open bag of potato chips, and when he looks back up at me, he has a funny look on his face. His mouth twists to one side. I get the sense that he’s weighing whether or not to say something, and I don’t want to interrupt his train of thought. I pick lightly at the chips.

“For the record, I’m not seeing anyone, either,” he says finally. “I haven’t had anything serious for a while.”

“Mmm.”

I worry that if I say too much, I’ll scare him into changing the subject—and I want to hear more.

“It was tough to date when I was training seriously, and then after, I jumped into a relationship, probably just to feel normal and fill all that time, you know? I figured, if I can’t be a competitive gymnast anymore, maybe I could be someone’s boyfriend.”