I’ve never seen anyone pale as fast as she did when she heard that voice on the elevator speakers. She looked like her life had flashed in front of her eyes. She said she’d call me, but I knew she wouldn’t.
If I was going to see her again, I’d have to make it happen. I went to the bar to weigh my options.
I’d be off on my road trip in the morning and would likely not see her again. But… she was so ready on the elevator. I could smell it on her. She wants me as much as I want her.
When I went to settle my tab, I found her keycard in my wallet. It felt like a sign.
I passed her friend in the hallway and the wrathful expression on her tear streaked face gave me pause. If Regan was y as angry as her friend looked, then this would likely be a short visit.
I opened the door slowly, expecting to find Regan in a lather. Instead, she stood in the middle of the room, her eyes full of regret, her trembling mouth moving wordlessly. She looked like someone dropped a bomb on her.
I carried her to the couch and we’ve been sitting with her in my lap, crying like someone died.
Her crying subsides to soft sniffles. I run a light hand down her back and brave a question.“What happened?”
She sighs wearily, like the weight of the world is on her shoulders, “Matty and I had a fight. Nothing new,”
“Are you on vacation together?” I picked up on a touch of tension between them on the shuttle.
“We were here to spread our friend’s ashes. We used to be close, and then…well, life happened, and we lost touch. But I hoped… it’s not going to happen. And I’m sad. And tired.”
She groans and sags against my chest. She gasps and leans away her wide eyes on my shirt.
“Oh for heaven’s sake, I’m sorry. I’ve cried all over you. I’m…” With another groan, she jumps off my lap.
“No, hey, it’s okay.” I stand, but she mumbles stilted “excuse me,” and rushes to the bathroom, and shuts the door with a slam.
I miss the warm weight of her in my lap, but I’m also glad for the chance to clear my head.
There’s a reason our paths are crossing now. She’s in need of someone; Like I was the night she found me in that bakery. The words she whispered that first day come back to me. “I water you, you water me.”
A light comes on and excitement gets my brain back online. I can’t do anything to bring her friend back or to mend her relationship with Matty.
But I can give her something happy to take back from this trip. I’ll have to make a few changes to some of my plans and it will mean I’ll have to forgo my annual howl at the moon.
But, if she’s game, this might be even better than that. Having another shot with the girl who hung the moon was a pipe dream. Having the chance to do something to pay her back, something more than just fuck her senseless, is a moonshot. I can’t pass up the chance to at least try.
The bathroom door opens and she strides out. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” Her voice is cordial but her smiles, but it’s tight with discomfort, she doesn’t meet my eye.
She cuts a brisk path to the mini bar. Her rigid back to me, she busies herself pouring drinks, but doesn’t say a word.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” she says and turns to face me. Her eyes are clear and dry and the dark flush of emotion is gone, she looks like nothing happened. But her hand wobbles when she lifts one of the glasses she’s holding to her lips and down the entire thing in one sip.
“What was that?” I wince at her pained cringe as the liquid made its way down.
“Tequila.” She puts the empty glass down, grabs the bottle from the bar and walks over to sit next to me. She gulps half of the second glass and drops wearily onto the couch.
“ I never cry,” she sounds bemused.
I take the bottle of tequila and glass from her pour myself a shot and throw it back. The burn is good and bracing.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she takes the glass back and I pour her another finger.