“I miss you already,” I whispered close to her ear. “How am I going to survive the next few months, Kas?”
She stirred, moaning softly as I pressed my entire length against her body. “G-Gray?”
I kissed her neck, felt her shiver, and my body tightened, but I didn’t pull away from her. Instead, I held her lower body harder against mine and started humming the lullaby that, to me, was hers. She let out a soft sigh and turned in my arms. Her arm went around me and she buried her face in my chest.
“Love you,” she mumbled sleepily.
I closed my eyes, surprisingly fighting the sting of tears. “Love you more.”
A small smile teased at her lips, and she cuddled deeper.
I held her while she slept, softly rubbing her back and humming her lullaby until the sun came up. Then I forced myself to kiss her forehead and untangle her from around me. “Bye Kas,” I whispered as I leaned back over her. Then I kissed her cheek.
Her eyes jerked open before I could straighten. “You’re leaving?” she whispered, her chin trembling.
“Yeah, baby.”
Those triple-blue eyes filled with tears, but she tried to give me a brave smile. “Call me later?”
“You know I will.”
Her fingers stroking over my cheek. “I miss you already.?
??
“Me too.” I caught her fingers and brought them to my lips. “Be good, okay?”
She nodded, two tears spilling over her lashes and onto her cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you more, Kas.” I released her and forced myself to straighten. After one last smile down at her, I turned and left.
I grabbed my things from my room and went downstairs. Alicia was standing beside the coffee pot, a mug of coffee in her hand and a disposable cup waiting on me. With a small smile, she handed it over and stood on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek.
“Love you, honey. Have a safe flight. Call me when you land, okay?”
I dropped my bag and set the cup of coffee on the counter. Then I bent and lifted her into a tight hug. “I love you. You know that, right?”
Her arms wrapped around me and she kissed my jaw. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”
I carefully placed her on her feet. “Stop working so hard. Take it easy and enjoy life a little more.” I touched a finger to her cheek. “There’s more to life than work, Alicia. Take Kassa on vacation. Go to the beach. Take a cruise. Do something with her instead of leaving her alone all the time.” My tone was scolding, and we both knew she needed it.
Her face fell a little. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t tell me. Tell Kassa. She’s the one who ends up all on her own at the end of the day.” I gave her a small peck on the cheek. “Don’t let these last few months with her pass you by. Soon, she’s going to be in California with me and Jace, going to college. She’s going to be too busy for any of us. Don’t waste what time you still have with her.”
“I won’t,” she murmured softly, regret filling her eyes. “I promise.”
“Good.” I picked up my bag and the coffee. “Love you.”
“Love you too, honey.”
I left her standing there with a lost look on her face, and I felt bad for having gotten onto her like that, but it had needed to be said. Alicia had been wasting the time she had with just Kassa in the house, and if she didn’t do something soon, she was going to regret it.
Outside, I climbed into the rental car and started it but didn’t immediately back out of the driveway. My gaze went up to Kassa’s window. I wanted to go back in and hug her one more time, wanted to tell her that I loved her again. Instead, I just sat there, missing her.
There was a movement in the window, and in the next moment, I saw her looking down at the car. Two seconds later, I got a text.
I meant what I said. I love you. But nothing has changed. It never will. You’re still my best friend.