It was nearly one a.m. when both Norah and Chase had physically exhausted themselves completely. It had been a long time since Chase had experienced sex so good she became exhausted. She couldn’t stop thinking about Norah telling her that she loved her. Even though the words didn’t change the circumstances and didn’t fulfill Chase’s fantasy of the white picket fence, hearing them was far from nothing. No matter what happened with them, or what didn’t happen, Norah loved her again. Or maybe she loved her still. It didn’t matter. For now, this was enough.
“I haven’t been able to sleep a full night since we got here,” Norah said with a sigh.
“Me either.”
“I used to be such a good sleeper too. Out like a light at ten p.m. and up at four thirty a.m. It didn’t matter what kind of day I was having, how much stress I was under, nothing. My head would hit the pillow, and I was done. Here, though, I just toss and turn most of the night.”
“I know. I’ve seen it,” Chase said softly.
“It’s so much better when I’m next to you though.” Norah smiled and brushed the back of her fingers against Chase’s cheek.
“I’d be happy to sleep here every night if you wanted.”
“Eventually people would get suspicious.”
Chase laughed dramatically and propped herself up on her elbow so she could look directly at Norah.
“Come on. You don’t think everyone already knows?”
“Ugh. You’re right. At least John does. And Jamie…” Norah felt the air be briefly sucked out of her chest.
Chase nodded solemnly. She curled tightly against Norah, and they lay there in silence for a moment.
“Hey. I think I have something that might help you.”
Norah watched with confusion as Chase got up and disappeared out of the tent. Less than a minute later, she was back, holding a pair of wired headphones.
“It’s silly, I know, but I found these YouTube videos. I’ve been listening to them for a while now. They’re called ‘The Sleepy Scientist.’ It’s basically just this guy with a very soothing voice telling stories about the history of the dinosaurs, the ice ages, the Cambrian Explosion. A few minutes in, and I’m unconscious almost every time. And if I’m not, it’s still fun to listen to.”
“How on earth did I manage to forget you’re as nerdy as I am?”
“Now we both know that’s just not true.”
“I think it is.”
“It’s definitely not. Did you know I joined a pickleball league back home?”
Norah laughed and pulled Chase back down next to her, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist, suddenly deathly afraid to ever let her go again.
“And that’s supposed to be cool?”
“It is extremely cool. Sometimes we even get together for beer and Scrabble afterward.”
“Oh, Daddy, tell me more,” Norah said teasingly, batting her eyelashes.
“Shut up.”
“All right. I’m sorry.” She lay back down, pulling Chase with her and pressing her breasts close against Chase’s back, wrapping her arm around her middle.
“But I don’t mind if you want to call me Daddy again,” Chase whispered, a soft giggle following. Norah whacked her shoulder, and Chase grabbed Norah’s hand and held it tightly against her chest. They lay like that for a while until Chase leaned over to grab the earbuds, putting one end in her own ear and handing the other to Norah.
All Norah remembered was hearing the Sleepy Scientist talk about the Greenland Shark and, then, nothing.
The sun wasn’t even up yet, but Norah knew she had to check on Jamie. And she had to do it alone. Chase was still sleeping soundly next to her, the earbud still firmly in place and the wire snaking its way to her phone, which lay next to her on the cot. She looked so sweet, breathing softly in the warm light of day, her eyes fluttering occasionally under closed lids. It was sometimes too hard to believe this was the same Chase who had hurt her so badly so long ago.
Hoping to sneak out without discussing where she was going, Norah slid slowly from under Chase’s arm, which was still draped over Norah’s chest. Chase stirred, a gentle moan emerging, but didn’t open her eyes, and Norah exhaled in relief.
She managed to get to one of the jeeps without being spotted. If she was lucky, she could make it back before too many people noticed. Of course she could have just called the hospital. But for some reason, Norah needed to see for herself.
