Member-only story
A Love Between
A short story.
Nina’s eyes followed the clock’s hands. 3:03.
Seven months ago they decided they would meet every Sunday at 3:00, but Ryan was always late. Nina twisted on the barstool and tapped her nails against the counter, pretending that Ryan was just that: late. Pretending she wasn’t afraid that this time, Ryan wouldn’t show up at all.
Nina glanced at Beth, the restaurant owner, in the kitchen from the bar. She was cooking two burgers for her and Ryan, and Nina’s stomach flipped with guilt. Beth probably had more faith in her and Ryan than she did. How wrong was that?
How could she think Ryan wouldn’t show up after all this time? Last week, Ryan had laughed so much, so hard, and clutched Nina’s hand like never before. They were okay.
But the truth was, no matter how okay she thought they were, every Sunday, Nina felt like hands were squeezing and pinching her insides.
She looked at the clock again. 3:05.
Nina heard tires on the gravel and her fingers stilled. She didn’t dare turn around. It didn’t mean it was Ryan. It could be someone driving through, hoping to stretch their legs and grab a coke at Stop N’ Talk before getting back on the road.
The car door slammed.
