Piper didn't linger around William; after all, he'd been pretty direct. She was an adult, and once things were made clear, she dropped any lingering thoughts.
Fortunately, her feelings for William were only budding. While she had certain intentions when he worked at the nightclub, she certainly couldn't force anything now that he'd left.
"Alright then, it was nice to meet you. If fate allows, we'll meet again for a drink," Piper, a woman who had weathered many storms, said without any hint of the dejection a younger woman might display. Instead, she gave William a gracious smile.
Nobody's life stops because someone leaves, especially when they'd only known each other for a couple of days.
As Piper turned back towards her table, she coincidentally met Alice, who'd been standing there for a while. They'd met once before, so they exchanged nods in greeting.
