“I will.”
My shoulders ease. “Thank you.”
Florian and I exit the car, and he removes my duffel bag from the trunk. I wish I’d had the good sense to get one with wheels.
He carries my bag like it’s nothing, and it probably is nothing to him. The lime green color was chosen for its ability to stand out, but against Florian’s designer jacket, it only looks garish.
Florian carries it carefully through the sliding doors all the same. The airport bustles around us.
“Do you have your boarding pass?” he asks me.
I bring it up on my phone.
“Good.” He nods, but he still looks sad, as if standing in line with me at the ticket counter might have brought him more joy.
“I’ll miss you,” I blurt out.
Florian’s eyes widen.
“I’m sorry. I?—”
“Mateo.” Florian pulls me into his arms. My head rests against his chest. He runs his fingers through my hair, then removes them. “Sorry. I did not mean to mess up your hairstyle.”
“My hairstyle isn’t important,” I grumble.
“Are you certain? It’s very nice.”
I pull myself from Florian’s chest. “Thank you for having me.”
He frowns. “I liked spending time with you. Spending time with you is my favorite thing. I-I already miss you.”
“Oh.” I glance up at him.
Okay, I know Florian is not just Florian. I know Florian is also Florian Richter, new defenseman for the Nashville Twisters. I know his job comes with a salary and prestige that mine doesn’t. They already took pictures of him that they’ll start hanging from poles in downtown Nashville.
I know all these things.
But, I also know that Florian is Florian.
And maybe…
I hesitate.
I don’t need to come back here. Everyone will understand that long distance is hard. No one will think it is strange if I am no longer at Florian’s side.
I know that.
But maybe I can also be honest.
Maybe I shouldn’t keep things from Florian, even if I’m certain that it’s for his own good.
Maybe I should tell him that I really care about him.
We walk through the airport, toward the large sign that says “security.”
I turn to him.
“I loveyou!” I exclaim.
