Fortuity (Transcend 3)

I shake my head.

“He said, ‘Well, okay then. Looks like you deserve a shot at this.’ Then he said he’d take it away if I wasn’t responsible with it. Then he checked to see if there were any parental controls set. And there were, which is odd.”

Nate set them. I already know he took her phone while she was sleeping and he set them.

“So odd.” I nod.

“Want to know something else?”

“Of course.”

“Gabe requested to follow me on TikTok. He said it had nothing to do with the kiss because he thinks of me like a sister, not like a girlfriend.” She shrugs. “We’ll see. Once my boobs come in, he might change his mind.”

I laugh and the tears try to make a return. “What’s this?” I tear open the tissue paper.

Her nose wrinkles. “It’s just a hat. I wanted to knit everyone something. Hats are quick. I wanted to knit you a scarf, but since we’re leaving early, I had to make everyone a hat.”

I slip the light blue hat onto my head. “I love it. Thank you. I’m going to miss you. I’m going to be the only girl now.”

“Me too, but we might get a dog, and if we do, I want it to be a girl.”

“As you should.”

“Well …” She lifts her shoulders then drops them on a sigh. “I’d better get going. We’re getting up really early in the morning.”

I pull her in for a big hug, quickly reaching up to wipe a few tears right when they fall. “Promise me you’ll be you. Promise me you’ll call me anytime you need to talk girl stuff. Promise me you’ll wait for the boy who truly deserves your heart. And…” A few more tears escape “…promise me you’ll take care of your dad.”

“I promise.”

I release her. “Here. Hand me your phone. I’ll put my number into it so you have it … your dad will then too. Just in case you guys leave anything behind or … I don’t know. Need something.” I finish typing in my contact information and hand her phone back to her.

“Cool.” She smiles. “If you’re ever in Wisconsin …” She quirks her lips. “My dad says that to our friends whenever we pack up to move to our next destination. I don’t think anyone will ever pop in to say hi. I think he just says that because it makes it sound like we might see them again.” Her smile melts into a tiny frown. “I don’t think we will. Bye forever kind of sucks. So …”

I smile, letting a few more tears fall, but this time I don’t try to hide them from her because she has a few falling down her cheeks too. “If you’re ever back in San Diego …” I grab her hand and squeeze it while my other hand wipes her tears.

“You have to come downstairs and say goodbye to my dad, but don’t expect tears. He’s not a crier.”

I laugh and wipe my tears with my shirt. “Got it. No tears.”

She takes my hand and leads me down the stairs.

“Ready to get to bed, Squirt?” He looks at Morgan, not at me.

She releases my hand and hugs Nate. “I’m not going to be able to sleep. I’m too excited.”

He bends down and kisses her head.

“Okay …” She pulls away and gives Mr. Hans a hug. Then she forces one on Gabe, and that brings smiles all around.

My gaze goes to the red hat on Mr. Hans’s head and the black hat on Gabe’s head. Morgan is a beautiful, incredibly generous young lady. And I’m going to miss her so very much.

“Thanks for everything.” Nate hugs Mr. Hans. “Enjoy the rest of your summer, buddy.” He gives Gabe a hug. “I hope you have a great soccer season. I’m going to miss you.” He squeezes him tightly. My heart feels it.

Then … things get really uncomfortable. The air in the room becomes thick and suffocating. All eyes fall to us. It’s time for Nate to hug me goodbye.

I just need it to be done. My strength is crumbing. “Safe travels,” I say.

Nice and generic.

Detached.

Unemotional.

Friendly.

I hug him, but just as his arms start to go around my waist, I step back and plaster on a smile while looking at Morgan because … I will need to be put back together from a million pieces if I look at Nate now.

Morgan and Gabe make nothing of the awkward hug or the lack of eye contact, but Mr. Hans looks pained.

Pained for me.

Pained for Nate.

Maybe even a bit of his own pain. He knows what it’s like to be separated from the one you love.

As they open the door to leave, I head back up the stairs, holding my breath and every emotion causing pandemonium in my chest. At the last second, I glance over my shoulder just as Nate looks up a few seconds before the door closes.