Sam kissed Ollie’s forehead and then stepped back and offered Ollie his hand. Together, they walked at a leisurely pace, strolling along the water’s edge. They’d occasionally stop, and Ollie would lean up against Sam’s shoulder, still holding his hand tightly. When they reached the point where the walkway ended, they stopped again, this time for a few minutes. And this time, Ollie turned to face Sam, slipped his arms around Sam’s waist, and rested his head in the crook of Sam’s neck.
Like earlier, he felt comfortable and content, and he definitely didn’t want to move. Especially since he’d seen Sam glance at his watch again just when they’d stopped, and he knew they needed to head back soon. He could feel Sam’s heart thrumming rhythmically in his chest, and he smiled and brought one hand back around, placing it gently on Sam’s sternum.
“What kind of puppy are we gonna get?” Ollie asked quietly, and Sam laughed, the sound rumbling in his chest. Ollie smiled against him and tightened his arms around Sam again. “Has to be—”
“—one that can keep up with JoJo?”
“Yeah. That’s not gonna be easy.” Ollie tilted his head back to look up at Sam, trying for a silly grin.
“No,” Sam said, returning Ollie’s smile. He reached up and touched Ollie’s cheek softly. “We might need to look for a while. But we’ll have... we’ll have all the time in the world when I—when I get back home.”
Ollie inhaled and exhaled slowly, hearing the words Sam didn’t say. It was time to go. He clenched his jaw and nodded, then took Sam’s hand again and started back the way they’d come. They made the walk in silence, although it wasn’t quite as uncomfortable as the silence in the car had been, and he felt the warmth of Sam’s touch the whole way.
When they got back to the car, Sam opened up Ollie’s door for him, and before Ollie got in, Sam leaned over and pressed a brief kiss to his lips. Ollie couldn’t help but smile as they pulled apart, even though he still felt the threat of tears at the corners of his eyes. He took his seat, and Sam closed the door behind him, then jogged around to the driver’s side and climbed in. And as soon as they got on the road again, Sam reached out and took Ollie’s hand, then brought it up to his lips. The light kiss on his knuckles made Ollie’s heart stutter, and he let out a shuddering breath as Sam settled their hands together in his lap.
He could do this. He would do this.
And... he could be strong. Stronger than he’d been the last few days.
Because Sam needed him to be. Sam needed to know that he’d be okay so that Sam could be okay. So that Sam could stay here, take care of his family like he needed to, and not feel any guilt or anxiety or worry over it. So that when Sam came back... camehome, they would be even stronger together.
And then they could talk about all those things. Getting a puppy, buying a house, maybe even... maybe even getting married.
Ollie squeezed Sam’s hand and glanced over at him again. Sam had his eyes trained forward on the road, but he smiled and lifted their hands to give him another kiss.
A few minutes later, Sam pulled into a parking spot in the short-term lot at Logan International Airport, and without a word, they both climbed out of the car. By the time Ollie got out and closed the door behind him, Sam already had his messenger bag out of the trunk and was moving around to meet Ollie at his side of the car.
“Here, I, uh, I’ll walk you in, if that’s—if that’s okay?” Sam stammered, handing Ollie his bag.
“Yeah, please do.”
Every minute, every second. He wanted every single one, knowing it would be the last one for a while.
Sam nodded and took Ollie’s hand—again. Ollie shouldered his bag, and then the two of them walked together across the skybridge and into the airport. Sam stayed at his side as he used one of the self-service kiosks to print his boarding pass and as they navigated through throngs of people, all seeming in a hurry, until they reached the security line.
Strong. He would be strong.
He stopped back a few feet from where the line began, and he felt Sam’s arm come up around his shoulders. A light kiss grazed his temple, and he closed his eyes.
“I’ll, um—” He cleared his throat and started over. “I’ll call you when I land.”
“Okay,” Sam said, his breath warm against Ollie’s cheek.
“It’ll be . . . really late.”
“I know. Call me anyway. I-I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until I know you’ve made it home safely.”
Ollie turned toward Sam and stretched up to kiss him. It was a short kiss—they were in a crowded airport, after all. But he hoped it was enough to reassure Sam that he would be okay. That they would be okay.
He hoped it was enough to reassure himself too.
When he pulled away, he managed the brightest smile he could. A smile that he hoped told Sam everything he couldn’t quite say.
And Sam nodded, reached up to touch his cheek, and then leaned in again and whispered, “I know, love. I know.”
Chapter 24
Oliver (3:15 p.m.):Day 16. I have finally befriended the ducks.
