“Then I will do what I’ve been doing since we were sixteen. I’ll go home alone. We have our own rooms for this reason.”
I watch the road, angered by my sudden outburst of jealousy. What the fuck is this?
“I’m staying at the same hotel when I come back in two weeks,” she says.
“You’ll be staying with me.” Jesus fucking Christ, I can’t even act cool for a moment.
“Okay. Will you pick me up from the airport?”
“If I can get off work.” I think for a moment, and then hand her my phone. “Can you put my number into your phone, please?” She types it in. “Now put me in yours.” She dials her number from my phone, and it registers the call. “Call me as soon as you get there tonight so I know you’re safe.”
“Okay.”
“And trust nobody down there,” I add.
She rolls her eyes. “Rici.”
“Don’t Rici me. I know how fucking seedy men think.”
“Did you just admit that you’re a seedy man?” She smirks.
“Olivia,” I warn. “I mean it. Don’t go anywhere alone. I don’t want you in danger.”
“I’ll be fine.” She rolls her eyes dramatically.
We pull into the airport parking lot, and my stomach sinks.
I don’t want her to go.
We stand in the boarding lounge, holding hands, looking at each other.
“Last call!” the attendant announces.
“You have to go,” I say. Her eyes search mine. “Have a safe flight,” I whisper as I pull her into an embrace.
“See you in two weeks.”
“Yes.”
She smiles sadly. “Will you call me?”
I stare at her as I begin to feel myself lose the battle of remaining silent. “Every day.” She wraps her arms around me, and our lips touch. “We had a crazy weekend, yes?”
“Crazy good. Call me tonight?” she asks in a whisper.
I suddenly become aware of the people around us staring at our long-winded goodbye. Self-conscious, I step back from her, our hands still linked. “Safe travels, bella.”
She smiles softly and hunches her shoulders together. “See you soon.”
I tuck my hands into my pockets. “Not soon enough.”
She gives me a fingertip wave and blows me a kiss. I watch her disappear into the departure gate, an overwhelming sense of dread filling me.
Because she’s gone.
Because I won’t see her for fourteen days.
Fuck.