I lean back against the brick wall behind me, closing my eyes for a second. I can practically see the small, content smile I hear in her voice.
“Miss you, too, pretty girl. Hey, look… so I’m in San Francisco for a couple of weeks, and I’d love to see you.”
“Wait, what?” There’s a scuffle of noise, like she’s repositioning against one of her ridiculously ruffled pillows.
“Yeah, San Francisco…”
“That’s a lot closer than Vancouver…”
I bite my lip, dancing around what I actually mean to say. I haven’t seen Taylor in over two months, and it’s killing me.
“Come visit.”
It comes out more demanding than I mean it to, but I’m desperate to close this distance that is growing between us.
She sighs. “I don’t know, Alex. I don’t have back-to-back days off ever, and it’s a four-hour drive one way…”
I’m silent for a beat, trying to figure out if she’s hung up on the logistics or if she just doesn’t want to come.
“I’m obviously going to book you a flight,” I say, cautiously. “If you’re willing to come, that is… Please come, Taylor.”
She hums noncommittally, thinking over my offer, while I stand, holding my breath and waiting for her answer.
“Yeah, okay.” Her voice is small. “Let’s find a day that works for both of us.”
?????????
We pick a day that fits both our schedules.
Not ideal for either of us, but the only one we could make work. Nothing about this relationship has been ideal since we left LA, anyway.
She flies in early. I meet her between prep and service training at the restaurant, time carved out where it doesn’t really exist.
I see her before she sees me.
She’s standing near the entrance when I pull up to the pick-up area in a sleek black car, looking around like she’s not surewhere she’s supposed to be. She’s wearing a white sundress that ties behind her neck, and strappy sandals that twist around her ankles. Her hair is pulled back, and she has vintage-style sunglasses perched on top of her head.
She’s so damn beautiful, it hurts.
For a second, I just watch her.
Then, unable to wait any longer, I get out and circle around the front of the car to where she’s waiting.
When she finally turns, our eyes collide.
And everything else drops out.
I cross the distance without thinking.
She barely has time to smile before I’m pulling her into me, arms tight around her, face pressed into her hair.
She smells like citrus and something sweet I never want to go another day without.
“Hey,” she says, voice soft against my chest.
“Hey.”
I don’t let go right away.
