“Gemma. You look…”Well? Don’t hold back now.“Stunning. You’re beautiful.”
“Why, thank you. You don’t look half bad yourself.” Gemma blushed, her eyes flickering across Caitlin with an unspoken lust. She pointed toward a set of French doors. “Want to step out outside with me?”
Caitlin nodded, a tense doom knitting through her chest.
Out on the terrace, they found an empty corner tucked away from the eyes and ears of the crowd. They simultaneously leaned against the railing, facing one another, and began to speak.
Caitlin laughed. “You go first.”
Gemma smiled faintly. “You know, I’ve dreamed of running into you again for years—all the different ways it could go, all the things I would say. But nothing could have prepared me for this.”
She gazed up at the dark sky for a moment before meeting Caitlin’s eyes again. “I want to apologize, though, for how I treated you in the beginning.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Caitlin said earnestly. She had deserved it.
“Well, I’m grateful that this movie gave us the chance to finally have the conversation we needed.” Gemma paused, her lip starting to quiver. “I read your letter… you came to my graduation?”
“I needed to see you, to know you were okay. I thought that if I showed up and told you how I felt, if I finally apologized, maybe you’d give me a second chance.”
Gemma sighed. “So then why didn’t you come talk to me?”
“I did, but you were kissing another woman,” Caitlin spoke softly, stinging from the memory. “It hurt to watch, but you looked happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. I didn’t want to ruin it, so I left.”
Caitlin slid her hand over Gemma’s, warm against the coldmetal guardrail. “Would you have even wanted to see me?”
“Honestly… I don’t know. I was still so angry and heartbroken. Why didn’t you mail your letter after, though?”
“Fear,” Caitlin admitted plainly. “I was afraid you’d reject me, and then we’d truly be over for good. Holding onto that letter felt like holding onto a sliver of hope.”
Gemma traced her thumb across Caitlin’s skin, steady and intentional. “I’m glad you gave it to me now. And I accept your apology. For everything. I think… I think that letter was the closure I’ve been needing.”
Caitlin felt her breath catch, her body prickling with an icy, electric thrill. She wanted to beg for another chance, to plead for Gemma’s trust, to vow she would never walk away again. Instead, she kept her pleas buried deep within her chest. Gemma had made her desire clear, and it wasn’t Caitlin.
Gemma examined her now-empty glass with nothing left to say.
“I’m going back in for another drink.” Gemma broke the silence, offering a gentle smile that held for an extra moment before she moved toward the door.
“Wait!” Caitlin called, her desperation sharp. “Would you take a walk with me? We could sneak out… I’ll buy you another drink somewhere else.”
Gemma seemed to contemplate the idea before she said, “Sure.”
They each made one final sweep of the party before their eyes met in silent conspiracy. They slipped toward the elevators, stealthily sliding in right before the silver doors closed.
Caitlin felt a haze of déjà vu as the two of them stood trapped behind the steel doors, just as they had after the chemistry read. Gemma stood close, her arm brushing Caitlin’s. Neither pulled away.
The lift dinged, opening onto the first floor. They exited thebuilding in silence, Caitlin holding the glass door for Gemma. In turn, their bodies met the warm June air.
“Where to?” Gemma asked.
Caitlin wordlessly led Gemma down the sidewalk, strolling side by side. The night hummed with the sound of traffic, the subway rumbling beneath their feet.
When Caitlin glanced over, Gemma’s face was illuminated with golden streetlight. Her heart stuttered.
Arriving at their destination, Caitlin ceremoniously pulled the door open for Gemma.
Gemma looked up at the sign. “Ten June? Wow, I haven’t been here since…” She paused, eyeing Caitlin.
“Me either.” Caitlin smirked, reading Gemma’s mind.
