I've just gotta ask,

I know it’s been a year. Well, more than that actually, a year and 10 weeks, give or take a day depending on how you cut it. If it's after midnight and the people haven't slept from the day before, is that event of the new day, or the previous day? I haven’t been able to decide. I’ve run out of things to analyze about our story.  
 
It’s been over a year since I’d seen your face. A little less since we've last spoke. For you, it’s been a year and 10 weeks since we’d been in the same area. Truth is, I’ve been in town for a few months. But I guess you’ll find that out if you wanna get some coffee, or a drink, or something?  
No one ever picks something. Maybe this time you will.  
Coffee would be nice. I agree, coffee would be nice.  
There’s a lot less pressure and a lot less mistakes. We have space to rationalize, room to think. We’ve got to be mindful of our energy, we have to breathe.  
I agree, coffee would be nice. I know a place by me, I’ve been meaning to explore a few more spots.  
I wouldn’t call it a test, but it’d mean a lot to me if you’d made the trip for once.  
 
How long are you in town for, you’d say.  
Actually I moved here when my lease was up in the summer, I’d say.  
Why didn’t you tell me? Because I needed to put my roots down without you.  
There’d be a pause. I didn’t mean it like that. But you’d know what I meant.  
 
I’ve wanted to call, we’d both say, angry at ourselves that we never did. Why is it so hard for us? I want to ask. Maybe this time I will. But not before I throw up butterflies. Discreetly, into my coffee cup.  
Too hot, I'd say.  
 
It’ll be excruciating but we have to do it.  
How have you been? Are you still at that one job? What are you doing now, then?  
It’s weird, we hate these surface level, mundane conversations, but we’re dying to know, and we’re dying to know every single day, that’s why we’re doing them now.  
 
We’re dancing, we’ve always been good at dancing.  
Did you move by yourself? No, no, my two friends grew up in the area and wanted to try something new, and if I signed another lease I feel like I’d be overstaying my welcome.  
Oh so now we’ve got 3 of you assholes in the big city? C’monnn!  
Always such a kidder. I just wish you’d say it. Just say you’re happy to hear that. That you’re happy the world is so small. That you’re really glad I met those friends. Give me a crumb; why do you hoard all your thoughts like they won’t be yours if you share them?  
How about you, are you still with your boys?  
I’m not sure what you’ll say. You’re a bit of a wild card.  
There’ll be another pause. We won’t know if it’s been seconds or minutes. I’m distracted by something outside and you’re watching the steam from the espresso machine create a curtain of fog between the cashier and the customer. The only curtain between us is the burning tension, like a balloon blowing up with air until it pops.  
Am I hearing your brain or mine, saying get it over with, just ask?  
 
Are you seeing anyone?  
Or is that too forward. Should I say it or should you say it?  
Do either of us really want to know? We wouldn’t have come if we didn’t, I think.  
Maybe I’ll say it. I can’t hold back like I did last time, and I want to show you that I trust you. I should show you how I’m feeling for once in my life.