It was all decked out like there was an event that was supposed to happen. If I didn't know better, I would have thought we were there for a party or something. The lights were dimmed, and there was a table at the far end with two covered plates on it. Tiny little Christmas lights were strung around the entire room, making it seem like we weren't in Hawai'i anymore.
"I wanted us to do something special so you'd remember more than my back porch when you went back home," she said. "Do you like it?"
"You did this?"
"I asked Makani for some help, and Keno to make sure you got your suit," she said.
Fuck. I didn't know what to say. Nobody had ever done shit like this for me. I couldn't pretend like I didn't know why people had taken from me all my life. I didn't mind doing stuff for people, but it was different when they did it for me. I mean, especially Abby. I was a week away from leaving her, and she was here trying to make sure I was still having a good time. I didn't know what to do.
"I love it, Abby," I said honestly.
"Come on, let's eat." She led me to the table and uncovered the plates. It was musubi and loco moco, the first things we ate together when we first started hanging out. I knew I could get Hawai’ian food in LA, but it wouldn't taste the same without her.
"I can't believe you did all this," I said, as we ate.
"I wanted to thank you."
"For what?"
"I've never met anyone like you in my life, Nate. I thought I had an idea about who you were since I listened to your band, but then I met you, and you were so much more interesting and unique than I could have imagined," she said.
"Please, Abby. You helped me stop using," I said.
"You let me see the person behind the music I fell in love with, and I'll never forget that. Thank you, Nate," she said. She was smiling, but I could tell she wasn't one hundred percent tonight.
"I'm so lucky I met you," I said.
"Don't forget me when you're successful and living the dream in LA," she said lightly.
I laughed. I was hanging onto this till the day I died. We finished our dinner and ended up on the beach, neither of us really wanting the night to end so soon. I was holding her hand and trying to forget that in a few days I wouldn’t be able to. The ocean water quietly crept up the shore, and the stars shone brightly in the sky.
We got to her house, and I let her climb up the porch first, standing there in the bright, yellow light with her. I felt like I was walking her home after a date and she was about to say goodnight and go inside alone, which was not what I wanted, not tonight. Not any night.
"Would you like to come inside?" she asked. I smirked.
"When have I ever said no to that?" She giggled and looked down. She was nervous about something. I felt her take my hand. She was looking up at me, and her eyes were glossy like she was holding back tears.
"I've never done this with anyone before," she whispered.
"It's okay," I said.
"You aren't even gone, and I miss you already," she said. A single tear fell down her cheek.
"Don't cry, babe. I'm still here."
"I just want you to be happy," she said, sniffing. "I want to be selfish and tell you to stay with me, but I can't stop you from getting what you truly want. I would hate myself if I ever stopped you."
I hugge
d her and kissed the top of her head. I hated seeing her cry. I knew she'd be sad when we had to split, but watching her was killing me. She pushed against my chest, so she was looking up at me again. Her nose was pink and her cheeks streaked with tears.
"I couldn't let you leave without telling you that I love you. I've never loved anyone like this in my life."
"I love you, too," I said. I cupped her face and kissed her. Her cheeks were wet from her tears. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. I pushed my tongue into her mouth, tasting her.
I loved how she tasted. I loved how she felt. I loved being with her, being inside her. I loved everything about her. She was perfect, and for the next week at least, she was mine. I pulled away looking down at her.
"Open the door," I told her. She turned and unlocked the door, pushing it open. I scooped her up into my arms and kicked the door shut, walking over to her bed and dropping her onto the mattress, taking my suit jacket off. Abby sat up on the bed in front of me, undoing my shirt buttons one by one. I started on my pants; this couldn't happen fast enough. I wanted her. I loved her, and I wanted to show her how much.