Already seated at a corner table. Back to the wall. View to the side. Face half-lit by the small amber lamp near the edge, airport exhaustion still sitting plainly over features no matter how cleanly it's being carried. Designer shirt still holding its shape, collar slightly uneven, sleeves pushed once at the wrists and then forgotten. One hand resting around a glass still not touched as much. Condensation gathering beneath fingers. One clear bead sliding down, catching the light before disappearing into the coaster underneath.
Now looking up at his friend approaches.
Not quickly. Not dramatically.
Just enough for recognition to establish. Eyes first. Face second. Then hands.
Observance sitting just long enough.
Long enough to see what was tried to be washed away and what water had not been able to fully fix. Long enough to notice the carefulness of that grip, the fresh-clean lie of someone who had scrubbed evidence from skin and forgotten that hurt still knew how to stand in the body. Long enough to understand that the appearance being worn is mere composure the way people wore jackets in bad weather. Not looking at those hands again as looking twice would formulate a question, and looking for too long would be translated into pity.
Instead, posture leans back slightly now, mouth curving faintly at one corner, almost a smile but not quite something sitting in the middle.
A breath passed, the jazz saxophone doing them a favor, filling it politely.
❝ Hot. I wore this pink outerwear in summer and pretended I was not fighting for my life. Went to Lake Como with family after. Posted photos. Apparently I soft-launched my girlfriend. ❞
The almost-smile stays, mouth twitching before continuing.
❝ It was my cousin. So the internet was beautiful to watch for a few hours before management stepped in. ❞
Only then the glass touches his lips, taking a sip. Slow. Measured. Something bitter and clean landing on the tongue before setting the glassware down exactly where it had been, ring of condensation meeting ring of condensation. A neat little perfect circle. A proof of staying.
❝ You look presentable. ❞
Words falling plainly, almost casually. Almost. Eyes flicking down once more, not to the hands this time but to the edge of Chris' sleeve, to the way the fabric shifted when it moved then back up.
❝ Which is usually suspicious at this hour. ❞
Reaching for the small bowl of ice the server had left near the drinks, taking one cube with a cocktail napkin, wrapping it carefully. Slow. Precise. An unnecessary amount of attention given to one small thing because looking directly at pain too long made people defensive. The napkin darkened where the ice began to sweat.