It was so packed inside, Stuart wasn’t likely to spot her lollygagging out here, so she backed away from the door and sat down on an empty bench. A straight couple sat nearby under a heat lamp, snuggled together and completely oblivious of her presence. She watched them, amused at how wrapped up they were in each other. The man’s expression was dopey, almost drunk, and it had nothing to do with his beer. The woman was clearly enjoying his attention—her cheeks rosy, smile wide. Ryann rubbed her leather gloves over her tired face, trying to whip up some courage, enthusiasm, or both, before going in.

“Hey, stranger,” Stuart said, making her jump.

She peered up at him and then froze, stunned. He’d grown a beard. It was nicely trimmed but full. He’d been entirely clean-shaven the whole time she’d known him, even in the goatee heyday of the late nineties. The beard had a slight reddish tinge, unlike his naturally near-black, curly hair. He was wearing dark, thick-framed glasses, which was also unusual—he’d worn contacts their entire friendship. Unlike his former hipster-wear, his clothes, too, were very different. He was wearing a Sherpa-lined green flannel coat, blue jeans, heavy tan snow boots, and a gray wool-knit cap. He couldn’t have looked less like himself if he’d been wearing a costume.

“Hey, yourself,” she finally managed.

He held out a hand and helped her to her feet, pulling her into a long, fierce hug.

“Oh my God, is it good to see you,” he said, drawing back. He kept his hands on her shoulders.

“You, too.”

“You’ve lost some weight, honey. Taking care of yourself?”

He’d always been the one to bring or send her lunch when he’d lived in the city, and sometimes even after he’d moved. She forgot to eat most of the time at work, which could be a major problem when she had long days. Gloria had taken on that task as part of her daily rota, but she wasn’t as persuasive as Stuart, who knew her tastes and how to guilt her into taking breaks.

“I’m fine,” she said. “And anyway, it’s not like I’m the one who’s changed around here.”

He laughed and gestured at his beard. “Like it?”

She considered him closely for a minute, long enough for him to shift from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable.

“You know what?” he said. “Forget I asked.”

She laughed. “No, no, I’m sorry. I do like it. It’s just…really different.”

He laughed. “I’ve gone native, Ryann. Jai and I even have the same jacket.”

She pretended to gag, and he play-punched her arm.

“Anyway,” he said, “what are you doing out here? It’s freezing! I told you to come inside when you got here. We have a table. Come on in and meet everyone.”

“Everyone?” she asked.