“Yes, dear.”
They paused by the door. London let go of their suitcase to cup Dahlia’s face in their hands, placing one last pillow-soft kiss on her lips. Dahlia’s eyes lingered closed after they pulled away. She put two fingers to her mouth, a small burst of melancholy suddenly pulling at her. It really would have been fun to trot around New York City together.
“You okay?”
London put a finger underneath her chin, forcing her eyes to meet theirs.
She smiled. “Yeah.”
Next time.
London kissed her nose.
“It’s just a few days. You know the studio needs me back by Monday anyway.”
London had started at the music studio a month ago, around the same time that Dahlia had moved in. Dahlia had never witnessed London more hyped and more on the verge of having a nervous breakdown, all at once. She had found it impossibly adorable.
“I love you,” they said.
“I love you, too.”
“Tell Hank I’m sorry I wasn’t here to officially welcome him to Tennessee for his first visit. But that I’m excited to see him when I get back.”
“I will.”
“And make sure you get the cinnamon bread at Dollywood.”
Dahlia rolled her eyes. “I know. For the tenth time.”
London hesitated.
“Dahlia?”
“Yes?”
“Please don’t get a dog while I’m gone.”
Dahlia laughed and shoved them out the door.
“Go!”
The door clicked closed behind them.
Dahlia walked to the window, to make sure London made it down the steep stairs of their building safely to the street. They turned when they reached the sidewalk, squinted up into the slowly lightening sky, and waved at her, three floors up. Dahlia waved back, a little flutter in her stomach at the silly sweetness of it. She watched them step into their ride, waited as the car drove away down their tree-lined city street Dahlia loved so much. The street that had felt like home, from almost the first moment Dahlia saw it.
And then, a different flutter landed in her stomach at the knowledge that she had the place completely to herself for the next twenty-four hours, until Hank arrived tomorrow. She turned and walked straight into the office, determined to do what she had said and get some work done.
The office used to be London’s old roommate Eddy’s room. He had moved out when Dahlia had moved in, which she had felt horrible about. London assured her Eddy was trying to move in with his own girlfriend anyway. Dahlia hadn’t felt too bad about it for long, though. Ithadbeen a relief to return to as-loud-as-Dahlia-wanted sex, wherever and whenever they wanted to have it.
She dug her toes into the high-pile rug she’d placed in the center of the office. She hadn’t brought many things with her to Nashville from New Bedford, but she was glad she’d brought this, a little bit of good from her old life to mingle with the new.
Her eyes drifted to a photo on the desk while the computer loaded. It was of London’s family on the set ofChef’s Special, soon after London had been pronounced the winner. Glitter was still falling from the ceiling. Julie was clinging to London’s arms, with Charlotte, Jackie, and Sara leaning in close by and smiling wide.
London’s dad was in the photo too, at the very edge, his hands stuffed in his pockets.
Dahlia was excited for many things this weekend: having alone time today, introducing Hank to her new home. But she was also intrigued to attend Sunday supper at the Parkers’. London had assured her she didn’t have to go while they were in New York, especially since Hank was visiting. But Dahlia wanted to. She loved Sunday suppers; Sunday suppers were loud and happy and fun. Plus, she was convinced Hank and Julie were going to hit it off immediately.
But she also maybe had a secret mission this weekend. She just wanted to make sure. That London’s dad would still use the right words, even when London wasn’t around.
