He shrugged and began fidgeting with a corn husk. “If I was graduating with, let’s say, an MBA from Stanford, that would mean something to them. I bet they’d show up for that. This is something else entirely. They’ve always thought a career in fashion design was unrealistic, and that pursuing this degree was a waste of time and money. Maybe they want to drive that point home by skipping my graduation. Like, if they actually showed up for it, that might be taken as an endorsement of all my bad ideas.”
That was infuriating. I would have loved to call his parents and tell them off. But this was obviously upsetting for Hal, and ranting about how much his parents sucked wasn’t going to help him feel better.
I made myself take a breath before saying, “You should go to the ceremony anyway. This is a big accomplishment, and you deserve to be celebrated. If I’m there, along with your best friend Logan, and all your housemates?—”
“I’ve already decided,” he said quietly. “It would hurt too much to see my classmates with their parents, knowing mine weren’t there by choice. But this is a good thing. It means I can come here right after the student fashion show. That’s a week sooner than it would have been if I stayed for the graduation ceremony.”
As much as I wanted to fix this for him and make his graduation a happy occasion, his mind was made up. “Okay. If that’s what you want.”
He changed the subject with, “Is that first batch of tamales done steaming? I’m starving, and we just ran out of masa.”
“It should be. Let me check.”
I got up and used a pair of tongs to grab a tamale out of the huge pot on the stove. Sure enough, it was cooked through, so I piled a few onto two plates. Meanwhile, he cleared off the table and grabbed two more beers from the fridge.
The first batch of tamales had a filling of roasted green chiles and cheese. He unwrapped one and broke it open, letting it cool slightly before taking a bite. I waited for the verdict and was thrilled when he murmured, “Oh wow, it’s absolutely delicious.”
We lingered over dinner, and then he helped me clean up before the two of us headed to the porch. This had become our nightly ritual. We grabbed Hal’s favorite fluffy throw blanket along the way, and all the dogs followed us as we stepped outside.
I took a seat, and Hal climbed onto my lap and draped the blanket over both of us. After a while, he said softly, “It’s going to be tough to try to step back into my regular life after this.”
“It will for me, too.”
“Thisisyour regular life.”
“No, it’s not,” I said. “It’s completely different, because you’re here.”
He kissed me before whispering, “I hope June gets here really fast.”
The next morning, both of us were quiet on the drive back to the airport. Hal kept fidgeting with the hem of his cardigan while staring out the window. He’d been really emotional when he went around and said goodbye to the dogs, and Jeff, and all the animals he’d bonded with before we left the ranch. I knew he was struggling to hold it together. I was, too.
There was no way I was going to drop him off at the curb with a rushed goodbye, so I parked when we arrived at the airport. I clutched his hand, and we each towed one of his big suitcases behind us on our way to the terminal.
Once we were inside the building, he turned to me with tears in his eyes and whispered, “I don’t want to go.”
I drew him into an embrace, and he clutched me and tucked his head under my chin. “I don’t want you to go, either.” That wasn’t what he needed from me though, so I added, “But you need to go back, finish school, and kick ass. You’re in the home stretch now, just ten more weeks. I know you’re going to crush it.”
“Thanks for believing in me. And thank you for everything over these past few days. You made my visit so special.” Hisvoice broke on that last part, and I held him tighter. After a moment, he whispered, “There’s a lot more I want to say, but if I try, I’m going to lose it.”
“I know. Me, too.”
He grasped my face between his palms and kissed me before stepping back. Tears shone in his eyes, but he smiled and tried to lighten the mood by saying, “I have a confession. I stole your T-shirt—the University of Texas one you slept in last night. I wanted something that smelled like you. But fair is fair, so I left something for you in return.”
“You’re welcome to it.” That was my favorite shirt to sleep in, but I would have given him anything in that moment.
“I’ll text you when my plane lands, and I’ll call you tonight.” I nodded, and he gave me the most wistful look before turning and starting to make his way to the check-in counter with his luggage.
A million emotions rose up in me. It was totally overwhelming. I called his name, and he turned back to me. I wanted to fall to my knees and beg him to stay.
Instead, I jogged over to him, pulled him close, and pressed my lips to his. The kiss was passionate and laced with need. I hoped it told him all of the things I couldn’t find the words to say. The kiss I got in return was just as urgent, just as full of longing.
When we stepped back, I tried to smile as I said, “Until next time.” He touched my cheek with some sort of strong emotion in his eyes. Then he went to check in for his flight, and I left the terminal.
I sat in my truck for a few minutes with my eyes pressed shut, fighting to keep it together. Finally, I left the airport and drove to Tank’s condo.
My friend stuck a huge Bloody Mary in my hand as soon as I stepped through the door. “I figured you could use a drink,” he said. “I also figured you’d turn down a beer before noon on a Sunday.”
“Thanks.”
