Loosening Ties

My breath hitches; I'm about to go to him when he suddenly starts to come closer to us. When the others see him approaching, they immediately start to clean up; they wipe their hands and mouths, arrange their stuff, and compose themselves.

I stop him just before he can get to our table and stand before him. "You didn't tell me you were coming," I whisper.

"My meeting ended earlier than I anticipat