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“Love you, Em.” I hold back my own tears, not wanting to make this worse, and the way she’s been emotional lately, it would definitely turn into a sob-fest.
Linc circles his arms around his wife. “You’ve got to let her go, babe. You’ll see her again soon.” He looks at me for support.
“Absolutely,” I agree.
Linc hugs me to him with his free arm and kisses my cheek. “Stay in touch, Carys.”
“Come here, CC.” Jack tugs me from Linc and hands me a notebook.
I turn it over in my hand. “Jack,” I gasp. “This is your notebook.” I run my thumb along the worn pages. “You can’t give this to me. Your songs are all in here.”
“They are. But you promised you’d help fine-tune them. I still need your help, and we can work it out over FaceTime or Zoom.” He hugs me, whispering, “Don’t be a stranger, okay?”
I know what this means to him and can’t believe he’d give it to me. “One day, I’m going to say I knew you two when.” I look over at Theo and open my arm for him to join us. “Thanks for letting me sing with you guys. I’ll never forget it.”
Theo chuckles. “We’d never let you stop if we could. Your voice is one in a million, Carys, and so are you. Promise you’ll call if you need anything.”
“Promise,” I push the word out, perilously close to losing it.
Cooper must see that I’m struggling because he clears his throat. “We’ve got to go, Carys.”
I step back and look around at the makeshift family I formed here.
Completely unexpected but absolutely perfect.
“I love you guys.”
Cooper places his hand at the small of my back and ushers me through the front door to a chorus of goodbyes and love yous before I climb into the Jeep and let the tears come.
I know this is the right move, but saying goodbye always sucks. And as I watch Coop walk around the Jeep before he gets in, I know saying goodbye to him will be the hardest.
* * *
We’re quiet on the quick drive to the airport, neither of us talking and instead choosing to sit in the heavy silence surrounding us. Not sure what’s left to be said.
When Cooper pulls up to the terminal and shuts off the Jeep, I hop out and grab my carry-on as he picks up my suitcase. We meet on the sidewalk, and I can’t help but feel like this is it. “Thanks for the ride, Coop.”
Jesus. Could I sound more pathetic? I might as well have told him I carried a goddamned watermelon.
“I’ll see you in two weeks at the wedding.” His arms circle around me, holding me tight to his chest, and I melt in his embrace, fearing this is the last time I’m ever going to feel this. I’m still so utterly fucked up over all of this.
I kiss his cheek, then look up at those eyes I love. “Two weeks.”
Coop grips the back of my head and crashes his lips to mine, and chills break out, covering my body. I hate how much I love him because that’s how much I want to protect him from me and my life.
When he pulls away, his fist wraps in my hair and tugs my head back, forcing me to look up at him. “Text me tonight when you land. Let me know you got in okay. And remember, this isn’t over. I’ll see you at the wedding.”
I purse my lips together and nod. “Okay.” Then I turn to leave.
“Carys...”
I stop and look over my shoulder. “We’re worth it, baby. I love you.”
I blow him a kiss and walk into the airport. Alone.
* * *
Carys:I landed. Flight was fine. Chloe’s picking me up from the airport.
