Memories flooded my mind. So many times in the past we’d locked eyes like this. Sitting next to her on the couch laughing at a movie, or across Mamá’s table as she helped me with schoolwork. Moments when I’d felt everything and said nothing.
I wasn’t sure what to say now. I’d behaved badly since she’d shown up on my doorstep, and I needed to reverse course.
The last time I’d seen her, at the hospital with Johnny, our parting had been strained, with me declaring again that we should limit any non-essential contact. I didn’t know how to dive into beingfriendlier. My only actual plan was to not be a dick.
Then I remembered the hospital had given us a bit of a roadmap, even if it was for show.
“Hey, wife,” I deadpanned.
She startled, head snapping back slightly. When I didn’t say anything else, a hint of a smile appeared on her face.
“Yikes. Did Artie Decker just make a joke?”
I shrugged, attempting to return the smile. “Marisol told me to let you know I was here and ready to work. Chuck can take me around when he gets in. That will give me an idea of what equipment I need to bring next time and how long everything will take. And the weather’s good today, so if there’s stuff outside that needs doing, I might start there…”
Shifting my weight from one foot to the other, I glanced away briefly before meeting those azure eyes again.
Her brows furrowed. “The weather…”
“Uh-huh. Checked my app in the car. Should stay clear all morning.”
“Well, then…I guess that’s…a smart plan.”
I tugged my collar. “So I’ll circle back around with you to go over everything and come up with a repair list once Chuck and I talk?”
Cori stared at me. “It’ll be good to know exactly what’s needed,” she finally replied, voice stilted.
“Really, really good,” I agreed, trying for enthusiasm, but my high-pitched voice and wide eyes might have tipped into crazy territory. ¡Mierda! Why was it so hard to talk to her like a normal person?
Her expression narrowed. “Alright, Deck, what’s going on?”
“What?”
“You know what. You only talked to me under duress last time I saw you, making a big deal aboutboundaries, and now it’s like you’ve been body snatched.” She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest.
I inhaled, taking a few strides closer to the desk.
“Look, Cori,” I spoke hesitantly. “I thought a lot about it since we last talked, and… I’m sorry. For a lot of things, but especially for not telling you I was back in town.” Her eyes shot lasers at me, but I forced myself not to retreat. “I’m working through some shit… but we have a lot of history, not to mention people in common, and I realized that my avoiding you can’t be our new normal. Neither can barely speaking. So I’m trying here.”
“Just like that?”
“Not just like that. I told you I’ve been thinking about it. A lot.” I tilted my head from side to side before rolling my shoulders. “I want us to be able to be in the same room together.”
She sat up straight. “Obviously, I want that too, Deck. It’s just a total one-eighty from how you were a week ago.” She shook her head, putting her hands against the edge of the desk beforerolling her chair back a few feet. “You know what? Never mind. I’m too busy to overthink this. I’ll take thisrealizationof yours no matter how it happened.” She steepled her fingers together. “I accept your apology. And I think it would be great for you to talk to Chuck and then let me know the plan for repairs.”
I nodded as a low cracking sound split the air.
That was all the warning Cori got before the two back casters of her chair disconnected from the bottom, causing it to tilt backward. Her arms flailed as she tried—and failed—to grab the desk. Racing to her side, I caught her elbow before she could fall, pulling her up against me as the chair toppled over with a crash.
In the stunned silence that followed, she let out a whoosh of air, and I felt the heat where her palm rested against my chest.
“Well, that was exciting.” She chuffed nervously. “Can you please addfix office chairto your list?”
I pushed back a strand of red-gold hair that had fallen across her face. “You okay?” I asked softly.
“Mm-hmm.” She pressed her fingers lightly against my T-shirt before stepping back as I released her.
Cori pulled out a folding chair from next to a filing cabinet and set it up behind the desk, pushing the broken one to the side. I kneeled to glance at it, quickly diagnosing that the casters were bent beyond repair. On the bright side, the almost-fall seemed to have distracted her from asking more questions about my change of heart.
