Nic walked past with a fistful of empties, clearing his throat. I glanced at the docket machine—still empty.

‘I think I might need to keep my Tuesday nights free for a while, though,’ I said, looking down. The corner of the mat had rolled up, creating a trip hazard, and I kicked it flat, ran my shoe over the edge. I had to be careful. ‘If that’s all right.’

I didn’t have to do anything drastic, nothing extreme; I just had to be a little bit more careful.

‘Of course it is.’ I could hear the light in his voice. ‘I’ve probably been hogging you a bit this past month.’

I smiled, picking up the cloth again and wiping the bench. It was fine. Everything was fine. ‘I’ve been letting you.’

‘I know, but it’s only fair I let other people have you for a bit.’

‘What’s that?’ Nic asked, suddenly next to me, eyes wide with excitement. ‘Does that mean she’s coming drinking with us tonight?’

‘No,’ Tom and I said at the same time. I looked at him, suddenly overwhelmed, my heart ready to burst. ‘Not tonight,’ he went on, holding my gaze. ‘I’ve missed her too much.’

‘Gross,’ Nic said. ‘Caitlin, are you going to let yourself be controlled like that?’

I shrugged. ‘He’s missed me, what can I do?’

‘Well, you could stock this bar, for a start.’

Tom laughed.

‘I’m all over it,’ I said, pushing off the bar and giving Tom one more look. ‘I’ll be back.’

‘I’ll be waiting.’

I grinned. Everything was fine. Everything was perfect.

He waited until I finished like he always did, and we walked down the hill to his apartment holding hands and talking about nothing and everything and when our eyes met it made my heart hurt, but in all the best ways, like it always did.

The picture was still there, but I could convince myself that it was just a picture, ancient history, barely real. Tom was real. He was real and he was with me, looked at me like I sparkled, said my name in that way that made me tremble, and it was all I needed.

I woke up suddenly, gasping for air, not sure why, not sure where I was.

My chest hurt, like I’d just run a marathon. I couldn’t remember dreaming but I must have been dreaming, and it was so dark I couldn’t see.

‘Hey.’ Familiar. Safe. A hand touched my shoulder—cool, because I was hot. Soft. Perfect. Tom.

‘Hey,’ I whispered, finding my breath. I rolled into him, felt my heart hammering in the confined space, the only thing I could hear.

‘You okay?’ His voice was sleepy, far away.

‘Yeah.’ I exhaled. ‘Just weird dreams.’

So bloody quiet.

‘Good,’ he mumbled. ‘Go back to sleep.’

I closed my eyes.