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“Thanks. I’d appreciate knowing, either way.”
“Well . . .” Maeve sighed. “I guess I’ll call ya,” she said quietly.
“Maeve,” he said before she could hang up. “Listen, if you need anything, call me. I can’t promise to always answer, but I’ll call back when I can. I care about you and know you’re going through a tough time right now, and with everything . . .” Kent paused. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just know that I’m here if you need anything.”
“Thank you. Again, I’m sorry. Have a safe trip, Kent.”
“Thanks.” He hung up before she could prolong the conversation. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his nerves before getting into the elevator.
When Kent reached Palmer’s door, he paused and listened to the music coming from the other side. Palmer had eclectic taste when it came to the music she listened to. Every time he’d come over, she had something different playing. He mostly caught her listening to songs that seemed like a tragic romance, but they made Palmer smile, and that was what mattered these days.
He rested one cup on top of the other and used the key Palmer had made for him. She’d given it to him the other night and was nervous about it. They’d taken a step in their friendship that most wait years to take in their relationships.
“Good morning,” he called out as he entered. “I brought the goods.” Palmer came out of her bedroom, looking worse for the wear. “What’s wrong?” Kent asked instantly.
“Nothing,” she said.
“You mean ‘something.’ You’ve been crying, and before you can argue with me, I can tell by how bloodshot your eyes are. Spill. What happened?”
Palmer shook her head. “I just realized some things today, and they sort of hurt, ya know?”
Kent nodded and set the stack of cups onto the counter before handing her one. “Are they things we can add to the list?”
“Maybe, but one is unlikely.”
“What is it?”
Palmer took a drink of her coffee, closed her eyes, and sighed. Kent smiled at the vision. They would have to seek a new coffee place in each town they visited because seeing Palmer enjoy a simple thing like that would be worth it.
“I’ll never see Lana Del Rey perform in concert.”
“Would you have gone if she had come here?” Kent asked.
Palmer shook her head. “Unlikely, but I would’ve liked to have had the option.”
Kent took Palmer’s coffee from her and set it down, along with his. He then took her hands in his. “We can make list after list of things we’re going to miss,” he told her. “From rainbows to new movies, from thunderstorms to our stupid rolling blackouts. All we can do is live in the moment. Moving forward, we live for now. We can sign up for alerts or something, and if Lana goes on tour, we’re there—front row—I promise you.”
“Do you think I’m being silly?”
“Not in the slightest.” He squeezed her hands. “Palmer, I can’t imagine what you’re going through. This must be the scariest thing ever, and I’m watching from the outside. I want to treat you like a fragile flower or a delicate egg, but I also want to bungee jump off bridges with you and scream from mountaintops. I also wouldn’t mind sitting on the couch and watching your favorite movies while sharing a bucket of popcorn.” Kent paused, shook his head, and then looked into her eyes. “What I’m trying to say is we can only live for the moment, but I promise you I’m going to give you as many tomorrows as I can. That’s my goal. I know it won’t be easy, but each day is a new day, a new adventure, and we’re going to make the most of it.”
Palmer grinned. “You’re rambling.”
“I am because my mind swirls with everything I want to say but sometimes have trouble with. All I know is I want you to live. Live for tomorrow.”
“I’m trying.”
Kent nodded. “That’s all I can ask. Now come on. We have coffee to drink. We need to finish packing and who knows what else, but we’re about to embark on a cross-country trip, and I feel wholly unprepared.”
Palmer reached for the coffees and handed Kent his. “My meds are packed.”
“Well, that’s the important part. Those are the things we can’t buy at the store. We can forget everything else, I suppose.”
“I’m going to miss this coffee.” Palmer held the cup close to her nose, inhaled, and then shook her head. “I wish I’d found it sooner.”
“That’s the beautiful thing about coffee, Palmer. It’s everywhere we go. We’ll find our favorites in each state.”
She held out her cup and said, “To the memories we’re about to make.”
Kent tapped his cup to hers and said nothing. He would be the one with the memories. Soon, her meds would stop working and her mind would shut down. Kent was nervous about the tomorrows he’d promised Palmer. They were going to be hard, a challenge, but he was going to do everything he could to make each day the brightest for her. He had to.
