“Thanks again for an amazing week,” I said softly, hugging him tightly.One last hug.
“It was our pleasure, Starshine. Have a safe flight. Can you text us when you get back to Hilo and let us know that you made it home safe?” Ashton gave me a kiss.
“Okay.” My chest shuddered.One last kiss.
“When you get dates worked out with your brother, let us know what works for you, so we can get things planned for you visiting us,” he added.
“And us coming to Hawai’i. I’m pretty excited about whiskey pong,” Steven added, pulling me from Ashton’s arms so he could hug me.
Whiskey pong? Oh, that memory came back to me.
“Yes, absolutely.” The words felt hollow. Would I? I wanted to. But was that the best thing for me?
I didn’t know. Tears pricked my eyes.
“We’ll miss you.” Steven kissed me as well. It was sweet, lingering…
…and felt like a farewell.
But that’s what this was. A farewell. They’d go back to hockey. When the finals finished they’d return to their lovely cabin, the season would start again, and their routine would continue.
One I really didn’t fit in.
I’d fade into a background as a fond memory.
You knew this was temporary. One fun week to get over Logan. You have years of hard work ahead. Hard work that the instability of hockey can’t support.
Which was true. I’d watched some videos of hockey mates, such as them packing everything up and moving across the country in the middle of the school year, because their alpha got traded, of choosing jobs that could be done from home or moved easily.
Yeah, I didn’t fit into that. I wasn’t willing or able to give everything up for them. You couldn’t just switch PhD programs because your alpha got traded.
I gave them one last wave, swallowing what I felt as I went back into the hotel. Auntie Kiki and Auntie Mimi were lining up their suitcases as I entered.
“Don’t worry, I’ll pack fast,” I replied, grabbing the flowers off the table and going into my room.
Cutting off a few flowerheads, I pressed them between the pages single paperback I’d brought and wrapped a belt around it. I’d do it better when I got back to Auntie’s, but this would work for now.
Taking everything I stuffed it into my suitcase. The only problem was, they’d bought me so many things, I didn’t have enough room for all the clothes, makeup, shoes, and accessories.
Plopping down on the floor, I started to cry, overwhelmed.
There was a knock on the door. “I have your other suitcase.”
“You do?” I hiccupped as Auntie Kiki came in with another suitcase.
Relief shot through me. Of course she thought of it.
“Yes, I got it when we went shopping without you.” She put it on the bed and methodically started packing everything, while I sat there on the floor.
Finally, I got everything out of the bathroom and shoved it into my suitcase. I also packed up my big backpack I used as a carryon and made sure I collected my chargers.
Auntie took the suitcase out into the living room. I noticed she left clothes on the bed. Mmmm… No…
Maybe?
In the end, I put on the comfortable flowy pants but kept their shirt and hoodie.
You can give it back to me when we next see you, okay?
