Take Care, Sara

quizzically. “Where were you just now?”
    Stuck in the past, like almost always. She wordlessly shook her head. “Nowhere.”
    Gracie turned the key and the engine shut off. “So do you still have it?” At Sara’s confused look, she added, “The camper.”
    Her chest tightened. “Yes. I still have it.” He’d surprised her with it one spring day, saying it would be their summer home away from home. They’d camped a lot with the 2008 Mallard. Sara thought if she entered the camper the remembrances would entangle her in their ‘never agains’ and keep her there forever.
    “Awesome. That would be fun, I think.” Gracie opened the door and got out.
    Sara couldn’t think of the upcoming summer, of months from the day she was currently on. It was hard to get past the present and have any desire to think of the future. She got out of the car and followed Gracie into the coffee shop, the strong scent of it teasing her senses as soon as the door opened. Gracie chattered as they placed their orders and continued when they took their seats at a small table along the wall.
    “You and Spencer are doing well?” she asked, searching for something to talk about.
    Gracie smiled, her eyes sparkling. “Yes. We can’t seem to stay away from one another for too long. It’s—Oh, hey! There’s Lincoln.”
    Her head jerked to the side fast, Sara’s eyes immediately scanning the inhabitants of the business. Something pulsed through her, something intense and unknown and scary. When her eyes found him, and it didn’t take long; seconds, really, the unnamed feeling grew, stole her breath, and forced her heartbeat into overdrive. His back was to them, broad-shouldered and clad in a brown jacket with an outline of a hammer and the company name on it: Walker Building. Her eyes tripped over him, noting his messy hair and the slight hunch to his shoulders. Even from behind, he looked tired, worn down. Sara wanted to wrap her arms around him and never let go.
    “Lincoln! Over here!”
    He turned, his chiseled features drawn. Lincoln’s eyes went from Gracie to Sara and they flashed, darkened, with emotion as they landed on her. His gaze lingered on Sara, the longer he stared at her the more uncomfortable Sara became. She shifted in her chair, wanting to look away, but something was keeping her from being able to do so. Lincoln finally broke eye contact, grabbing his coffee off the counter.
    “What was that?” Gracie asked slowly, eyes fixated on Sara.
    Face burning; she took a sip of her coffee, the temperature scalding. Sara quickly gulped it down, gasping, “What was what?”
    “The way he looked at you. It was—I don’t know— intense .”
    “It was nothing. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she mumbled quickly. It wasn’t a lie. Sara had no idea what was or wasn’t between them. Nothing. There was nothing. Yet that didn’t seem entirely true either.
    A chair scraped against the wood floor and Lincoln was beside her, elbows on the table, hands cupping a to-go cup of coffee. The heat of his eyes on her was hotter than the coffee she’d just choked down. She inhaled his scent, felt a sliver of peace wisp its way through her.
    “Sworn off the gas station coffee?”
    Sara smiled faintly. “You too, apparently.”
    “My guts couldn’t take it anymore.” He turned to Gracie. “How’s it going, Gracie?”
    “Good. Sara and I were just talking about camping.”
    “Really? What about it?”
    Gracie tucked hair behind her ear as she said, “Spencer wanted to get everyone together to go camping this summer. You up for it?”
    Sara glanced at Lincoln out of the corner of her eye, knowing his gaze was on her again. Their eyes collided and broke apart. “You know me. Always up for a good time.” Even his voice was exhausted.
    “How’s work?” she blurted, struggling for normalcy.
    “Annoying. Wanna come be annoyed with me?”
    Sara gave a short laugh, shaking her head. When Lincoln didn’t say anything else, she looked at him. “You’re serious?”
    He shrugged. “Why not? I’m measuring a couple houses this afternoon. You can take notes for me.”
    “You’re measuring houses in the snow?”
    “Yep,” he said cheerfully. “Best time ever .”
    “You should go, Sara,” Gracie urged.
    She frowned. “Why?”
    “Might be good for you.”
    “To freeze?”
    “To not be home. Alone.”
    “Come on, Sara, all the cool kids are doing it,” Lincoln said quietly, mockingly.
    Sara looked