“I know that.”
“No, she got sick, and I nearly lost her. I was planning on moving to LA when it happened. I turned down NYU because I didn’t want to live in New York, but I was packing my bags for LA, so to speak.”
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“Well, you don’t knoweverythingabout me, but, yeah, that was my plan. I was going to stay with a friend who lived there. She doesn’t anymore.”
“Just a friend?”
“Yes, just a friend,” Dana said, cupping Samara’s cheek. “She had a couch with my name on it, but then my mom got sick. One day, she was fine, and the next, she was in the hospital, and they said we almost lost her. I was still here, so I ran there, but if I’d been in LA, I would’ve been a flight away, and if she hadn’t made it, I wouldn’t have been able to say goodbye.”
“But shedidmake it,” Samara replied. “And you told me she’s fine now.”
“She is, but she has regular check-ups still. She goes in at least twice a year; sometimes, more.”
“You’re worried that if it happens again, you won’t be here?”
Dana shrugged and sat up.
“Babe, when was the last time you left New Orleans?”
“It’s been a while.”
“And what happens if your parents decide to move, like you said? Are you going to move with them?”
“No, of course not.”
“You say that like it’s ridiculous, but you’re here now because you’re worried she’ll get–”
“I love it here. My sister is here. She’s getting married, and–”
“And they haven’t even set a date yet,” she said and sat next to Dana, placing her head on Dana’s shoulder. “You can always come back to help them plan and for the ceremony.”
“I know,” Dana replied, sounding sad. “But what if Ifinally do it, and it doesn’t work out? What if I finally go there, and it’s all for nothing? What if I’m not good enough? Talented enough? Waited too long, so now I’m no longer young enough?”
“So, you want to just sit here and wonderwhat iffor the rest of your life?”
“Easy for you to say there, A-lister,” Dana teased.
“I’m being selfish, I know.”
“Youare?”
“Yeah, I want you to have what you’ve always wanted.”
“Well, Ihavealways wanted a taco from the truck down the street.”
Samara laughed and asked, “Really? It’s, like, four in the morning.”
“And we were supposed to be out meandering.”
Dana stood and offered Samara her hand.
“Can we maybe grab you those tacos and head back to my hotel or your place? I’m getting tired.”
“You want to go to my place?”
“I haven’t seen it yet,” Samara replied. “I think if we’re talking about more dates and the possibility of distance here, I should at least know if you’re sloppy and messy.”
