“Would it be weird if I told you I’m going to miss you?” Ashley instantly regretted the words until greeted with a responseso sincere.
“I’m going to miss you too.”
Ashley instinctively kissed her on the forehead. There was a part of her that wished for more, to be able to kiss her lips once again. The reality, however, was far different.
“I should go,” Megan whispered.
“Don’t be a stranger, okay?”
Megan nodded; she lifted Ashley’s hand towards her lips. A final parting gesture.
“Takecare, Ash.”
“You too.”
There was a recognisable ache in Ashley’s chest as she watched Megan walk away. The same ache had only been present once in her life—the first time Megan had left New York. There was no denying the connection they had, but a connection was just the spark. Time was its own master; time couldn’t alter the distance between them, that ultimately, keptthem apart.
***
“Ash, everyone’s leaving. Are you staying out here all night?” Samantha called out from the doorway of the clubhouse.
“I’ll be right inside.”
Samantha walked the short pathway to her sister. “You missed the ‘Find The Guest’ game winner.”
“Who won?”
“Megan, she got twenty-seven out of thirty. Do you know what’s even more interesting?”
“What?”
“She was the only one who got your clue correct, aside from our parents.”
The clue read,‘At the age of 10, I got lost in a theme park. The authorities searched for hoursto find me’.
“I told her about that when we went to Coney Island. Do you remember that?”
“Briefly, I remember the number of officers that were looking for you.”
“I got separated, so I ended up crawling under the space beneath one of the rides. I was so scared. I literally just sat there for hours because I had this fear someone wouldkidnap me.”
“Did we even go back to Coney Islandafter that?”
“Not until we were a lot older. I think it traumatised them.” Ashley laughed. “It’s funny now, but at the time I was in serious trouble.”
“You were always in some sort of trouble. I’m surprised Megan remembered that. I’ve known her for nearly four years and she didn’t even get mine without me telling her.” Samantha eyed Ashley suspiciously. “Why do I feel like there was more than just a brief encounter between thetwo of you?”
“Wild imagination, I guess.” Ashley winked.
“I saw the way you two were dancing.”
“She was sitting alone—I felt sorry for her,that’s all.”
“Okay, ifyou say so.”
“I do.”
“Fine.”
