My eyes occasionally looked away from the tips of my shoes to the signs we passed. While I had adjusted to my new legs, I still didn’t trust that I wouldn’t go sailing across the dark concrete. Justus tucked his hands in his pockets. For every two steps I made, he only took one. There was a comfort walking with him; I felt like I had a personal guard, even despite the fact he was a stranger I just met in a bar. Another strange thing I noticed was how I didn’t have that empty feeling when I was with him. “Why did you do that in there?” I asked combatively. “Do?” “Embarrass me?” As if he didn’t know. There was a deep chuckle. “Apologies.” Yet no regret. I muffled a grunt and took a deep breath of clean evening air. “So Miss Zoë, Where are you visiting from?” “We’re from Texas.” He lowered his head and followed the swing of my hand, perhaps looking for a ring. When he got the answer he needed he continued. “Boyfriend?” I played with that idea for a minute before I responded.
