“I thought I’d try at least. You know I hate goodbyes.”
She pulled me against her chest, and I instinctively curled into the embrace. Her hugs were one of the best things on the planet. Warm, soft, and everything about my mom that comforted me. If I had to choose between a Big Mac or a hugfrom her on my deathbed, I’d still pick a hug. And I loved a good Big Mac.
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, sweetie. Drive safe, okay?”
“I will.”
“Let me know as soon as you get home.”
“Okay.”
We pulled apart, and I noticed the tears brimming her eyes. She’d never been great at goodbyes either.
As I walked out the door, I yelled one last ‘I love you’ before shutting it behind me, all while trying to keep my own tears from falling. I had expected to be upset leaving Fayetteville. It was my home, after all, and I’d missed it more than I’d realized. But I didn’t expect to feel like this.
Melancholy clung to me, thick and heavy on my shoulders.
I was afraid to go back to Charleston. Being here had led me further down the path to finding what I truly wanted. I didn’t want to go home and forget, only to end up back in that cage once again.
And now more than ever, I missed my friends, my mom, and my home.
As I hefted my suitcase into the back of the Jeep, I was surprised to see Blake’s car pull into the driveway.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as she got out of the car.
“You didn’t think I would let you leave without saying bye, did you?”
“I hoped, anyway.”
“Oh, stop. I know how much you hate saying goodbye, but do this for me, okay?”
She gave me the same speech my mom had: Drive safe and message when I made it back. I pulled her into a final hug.
I sniffled as I pulled back. “Thanks for coming by.”
“I’m here anytime. Don’t you dare hesitate to call me. Seriously. Anytime.”
I smiled. “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind, but I’m not making any promises.”
We said a few more words before she climbed into her car, and I got into mine. We backed out simultaneously, and when we went our separate ways, I honked as she threw a hand out her window and waved.
I put on my 2000’s pop hits playlist this time and cranked the jams as I made my way south.
When I’d made it home, Elijah seemed overjoyed to see me. He helped me bring in my suitcase and even ordered takeout from our favorite spot.
Despite barely speaking while I was gone, he seemed to have genuinely missed me. In no time, we fell back into the routine that we shared.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
All the things I thought I’d left behind in Fayetteville.
He even apologized for pushing me to miss Noah’s funeral, which had completely shocked me.
And when we became intimate, it felt like everything was okay. As if all that worrying I’d done about my relationship had been for nothing.Elijah and I were exactly who we’d always been.
