"I need to apologize to you," she said. "I shouldn't have said those things, pushed you away like that. Tiffany told me about your talks with the team and I couldn't... I didn't want you to lose the opportunity because of me."
"I know," I said gently.
"How?"
"Tiff talked to me." She shook her head.
"You need to tell that sister of yours to mind her own business," she said smiling.
"You let your meddling best friend know that, too," I shot back. "Honestly? I'm glad she told me. I'm glad she set us up on that blind date when I got back from Afghanistan."
"I am, too," she said. "I'm sorry, for breaking up with you. I didn't mean it. Any of it. I didn't miss what I had when you were gone. Being with you was better."
"I did the same thing. I shouldn't have dumped you the way I did. I only did it because I wanted to protect you."
"I did it so you'd be happy. I love you, and I didn't want you getting stuck trying to move your career forward when a chance was looking you in the face."
"I love you, too. I guess doing some things because you love the person doesn't change the fact that it'll hurt them."
"Aren't you supposed to let someone go if you love them? Something like that? And if they're yours, they'll come back?" she asked. I leaned back on my elbows.
"There wasn't a good enough reason for us to let each other go. Not the first time. Not the second one, either."
"We found each other again eventually, right?"
"Yeah. But we didn't need the time apart in the first place." She sighed. The food was sitting there, but I wasn't hungry anymore. I didn't think she was, either. She leaned on one of her arms, looking down at me, touching my face.
"I'm still happy to see you," she said. "God. I could hardly even sleep last night wondering what would happen today. How are you even here?"
"I took a plane, babe."
"No," she said, pushing me playfully. "I mean how. Did you get permission? Did you have to leave the team?"
"I didn't. Training camp doesn't start officially until Monday, so no, if you're worried, I'm not breaking any rules by being here."
"Monday? So you're just here for the weekend?" she asked. Her hand ran through my hair.
"Just a short trip this time."
"That's too bad," she said. She touched my hair again. "I feel like it's been such a long time since I saw you."
"You missed me?" I asked, smirking.
"Yes, I missed you. I know how much you love to hear me admit it. It's going to suck seeing you leave again."
"Then come with me." She scoffed.
"I can't do that."
"Why not. The semester just wrapped, right?"
"Right, but you're going to be training. When would I even see you?"
"I'd come home every night."
"Home? What do you want me to do? Come live with you?" she asked jokingly.
"Yeah,"