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“I’m sorry,” Kate apologized. “The person at the front desk was nice enough to give me your room number.”

“Shit, I’m sorry.” I quickly backtracked. “I thought you were the maid.”

“Do you always yell at the staff?” she asked.

I stepped aside and motioned her to come inside. “No. Sorry, it’s been a rough day.”

As I shut the door behind me, I noticed her taking a quick tour around. I did the same, wondering if I’d left any damning evidence out.

But then again, what did I have exactly?

I’d accomplished absolutely nothing today.

The motel room was small and underwhelming to boot.

After a few seconds, her gaze returned to me. “It’s nice,” she said.

I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s a shithole, but thanks for trying.”

She shrugged. “You won’t be here forever, right?”

I stared at her with a blank expression.

“Your apartment hunt?” she said.

I nodded. “Right. Sorry.”

“You feeling okay?” she asked. “I’m sorry to stop by like this, but I got off work and thought you might want to get dinner.” Her voice faded. “I should have called first.”

She started for the door.

“My mom died,” I finally said.

She swung back around, and her eyes met mine.

“When I was in college. Breast cancer. Twelve years ago today. I didn’t remember,” I confessed.

I’d been standing since she arrived, but after saying those words, I felt physically weak. Sinking to the edge of the bed, I rested my forehead on the palms of my hands as the memories of that day tried to force their way back.

“Plane crash,” Kate said, pulling my attention upward.

“What?” I asked.

“That’s how mine died.”

She took a few steps forward and hesitantly sat down next to me as I processed the words she’d spoken.

“Both of them?”

She simply nodded.

“Jesus.”

“I was supposed to be leaving for a study-abroad program. An entire year in Spain. But, in my haste, I’d forgotten to pack my passport. I realized it the night before my early morning flight.”

“Your parents hopped a flight to get it to you,” I guessed.

“Kind of,” she replied. “Do you remember me telling you I used to go to the beach all the time?”