An awkward meeting

As I walk to the cafe, I send Zach a text telling him to order for me. Upon entering the cafe, I see a man in the corner of my eye waving at me. I turn to him, seeing a man with long red-ish brown hair and a lengthy beard. Surely that's not Zach. Then again, the hair color is right, and he has those blue-green eyes. Maybe it is him. I suppose he's had more than enough time to grow out his hair. Plus, there are two meals waiting.

"Zach?"

The man smiles. "Yep."

"O-oh my God."

"It's a been a while, hasn't it?"

"Sure has." I move closer, and look to my chair. That's where I notice his prosthetic leg, which makes me freeze for a second.

"Not what you think." He says.

"Right."

I take a seat as Zach says "Also, I'm sorry to message your workplace. I don't do Facebook."

"That's fine. So, what brings you back to Costa Rosa?"

Zach lets out a sigh. "I've been doing a lot of soulsearching the last few years and uh... I know Max might not be my kid, but... I just wanted to say I feel bad for bailing on you."

I shake my head. "I know what we were Zach. Plus, you were in the military."

"I know but, I knew and I just kinda... bailed."

"Well, I forgive you Zach, if that's what you need to hear."

He nods. "Thanks."

There's a second of silence before I address the elephant in the room. "You want to know though, don't you?"

Again he nods.

I let out a sigh. "Well, I suppose you have a right."

He splays his hands. "Hey, I don't wanna make a big deal out of it."

"A bit late for that, I think."

"Right..."

"Sorry. That was a bit harsh. I just... It's a surprise, that's all."

"Well, I did come out of the blue."

"I mean, I suppose you didn't have to do this, so in away it's commendable."

"I guess... So how is Max?"

I smile. "He's great. He's going through bit of a space phase right now."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I can't go a day without him telling me a random space fact. Think I've learned more from him than I did in school about space."

"Heh, I remember wanting to be an astronaut when I was a kid."

"Didn't we all?"

"Yeah... I mean I didn't mean to imply-"

"It's fine."

"Ugh... Sorry Morgan..." His eyes drift away from mine. "Guess I'm just struggling to find the right words."

"I don't think anyone could Zach. How about we just drop it for now?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"So you must've gotten up to something these last eight years?"

"Yeah, you could say. How long you got?"

I raise an eyebrow. "That exciting huh?"

"Well, I did spend the last year backpacking around South America."

His stories give me a chance to finally eat some lunch. Gotta admit some travel would be nice. Ever since I had Max, I haven't had a chance to leave the state, let alone the country. Then he'll mention something about spiders, or snakes, or something, which makes me reconsider. Still, it'd be nice to go out for a holiday sometime.

Once I've finished, I say "Well, anyway, it was nice catching up, but I gotta go."

"Oh... Yeah sure. I'll uh, see you soon?" Uncertainty fills his face, telling me he's not confident what I'll say.

"Sure. When are you free?"

He shrugs. "I'm kinda between jobs, so whenever really."

"Right... I give you a call then Zach."

"Yeah. Nice catching up with you Morgan."

"Same."