“You’re so sure it’s awhen?”
“Yes, I am,” Carrie replied.
“What if I’m not?”
“You are. You’re just being a pain in the ass right now because you’re scared. You’re worried I’ll want more than you can give or that you’re not going to be a good girlfriend, butI’m not. I’m not worried about those things, Gage. Do you know why?”
“No,” she replied. “I honestly don’t.”
“Chicken soup, Gage.”
“What?” she asked, looking at her in confusion.
“Chicken soup. You said you want to make me chicken soup when I’m sick.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.” Carrie smiled up at her. “I’m scared, too.”
“You are?”
“Gage, I’m going to miss you like crazy. I don’t want to go home. I honestly don’t. I’d much rather just change flights and go back with you, but I have things I need to do at home, and I don’t have some of my work stuff here. I have clients I need to talk to. But we can plan something today, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. I think that’s as much as either of us can promise: that we’ll make an effort.”
“I want to make an effort. I’ve just never had to make this kind of effort before,” Gage said.
“I know.Ihave. I wasn’t exactly the best at it before because I was gay and didn’t really want a boyfriend, but I have a feeling I’ll be much better at it with you.”
“What ifI’mnot?”
“What if you just lie down next to me and cease pacing so that we can hold each other and talk about this?”
“The pacing helps.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Carrie chuckled. “Baby, I’m asking you to hold me right now. We can talk about the trips we need to plan and pack later. We’re here right now, but we won’t be able to touch once we leave until we’re together again. What if we just cool it with all this serious talk for a moment and hold one another? What if you touch me and I touch you, and we remember how good it feels to be together?”
“Did you already forget?” she joked.
“No. I never will, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want new memories with you.”
“How do you know me so well already?”
“What?”
“Sasha doesn’t even know me this well, I don’t think, and you knew how to calm me down just now.”
Gage moved toward her and used her knees to spread Carrie’s legs.
“Maybe because we’re meant to be, according to Nia; I don’t know.” Carrie laughed a little nervously. “I’ve never had a girlfriend before, so I’m a little new at this, too.”
“Girlfriend,” Gage repeated the word. “I like that. Have I told you how much I like that yet?”
“Yeah, once or twice.”
Carrie smiled at her and pulled her in by wrapping her arms around Gage’s back.
“Chicken soup,” Gage said.
“Yeah, chicken soup, babe.”
