Neither of us moved, the softs inhales and exhales of breathing filled the space.
I turned toward him, taking him in; the familiar lines of his face and the softness that hadn’t been there when the weekend began.He looked the same.And yet, somehow, completely different.
“Thank you.”My gaze focused down as the tiny pinprick of tears made an appearance.The words felt inadequate, but it was true.“For...all of it.”
As I swallowed, I chanced a glance at my unwritten future.
His mouth curved into a small smile.“Anytime.”As if trying to keep things from tipping too far, he said, “You ever need another driver to help you find the best viewing spots, you know where to find me.”
I huffed a laugh, grateful for the opening.“I thought you specialized in complications, not travel plans.”
That easy, lopsided grin that had undone me more than once over the past couple of days surfaced again, but this time with a shrug.“Sometimes they’re the same thing.”
The smile lingered, and softened with the shared heartbeats, and once again, the space between us shifted.
I hesitated, forcing my voice to have strength.It faltered.“I wish you could drive me home.”
His breath caught enough to make my heartstrings vibrate.
“I’m not really ready to leave you,” I added, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess them.
For that breath of innocence, he didn’t joke.Didn’t deflect.He took me in, eyes steady, expression open.
“I know,” he said softly.“Me neither.”
The simplicity of it nearly broke me.
He reached out, brushing his thumb over the back of my hand where it rested on my bag.It wasn’t a kiss or a promise, but the contact I needed to stay grounded and sure.
“You don’t have to decide anything today,” he said.“About me.About us.About what comes next.”
I swallowed and nodded.“I know.”
“But,” he continued with a sure and steady voice, “you don’t have to pretend it didn’t matter either.”
I met his gaze and let a small bubble of hope tease my lips.“It mattered.”More than he’d ever know.
That was the truth I was taking with me.
Outside, a flight announcement crackled over the loudspeaker.My stomach dipped.
I opened the door and stepped out, the cool air brushing my skin.
He followed, pulling my suitcase from the trunk and setting it beside me.For a second, we stood there, facing each other, the world flowing around us.
“I’ll text you when I land,” I said.
“I’ll be waiting,” he replied, no hesitation.
I surprised myself by leaning in, pressing a brief kiss on his lips.Not the movie version, not dripping with passion.More like a promise, but it lingered all the same.
“Take care, Anna.”
“You too, Tristan.”
I turned slowly, as my shoulders sagged, dreaming of ways to run into his open arms and declare all I didn’t yet have the courage to speak.
Inside the terminal, I joined the stream of travelers, checking in, moving forward on instinct.I didn’t look back right away, too afraid of what it might cost me.
