“You’ve done well, Reeve,” Simon says, when they break apart. “Your mother would be so proud of you.”
I shuck out of Mom’s arms, wrapping mine around my boyfriend, feeling his body shudder as those words sink bone-deep.
“We’reallproud of you.” Mom squeezes his shoulder.
“You need to board the plane, or it will have to leave without you.” Simon shoots me an apologetic look.
“I love you,” Reeve rasps, holding me so tight I can scarcely breathe.
“I love you too,” I cry, uncaring that our parents are witness to this.
Grabbing my face, he plants a hard kiss on my lips. “Stay strong, babe.”
I nod, sniffling.
He kisses me again before pulling away, striding toward the steps leading up to the private plane with my gift tucked under his arm.
“Be epic, babe,” I call out after him. “And know I’m cheering for you every step of the way.”
He turns around and blows me a kiss. I jump up, cradling it in my hand, and he smiles.
A heavy pressure sits on my chest as I watch his dark head disappear into the plane, and it feels like my heart is shattering into a thousand pieces. The steps retreat, and the door closes, taking my love away from me. An errant sob escapes my lips, and I’m struggling to breathe normally over the massive lump clogging my throat.
In a surprising move, Simon circles his arm around my shoulders, giving me a comforting squeeze. He probably thinks I’m a complete basket case, and I’m sure my parents think I’m overreacting.
But as I watch the plane take off, flying my boyfriend to the other side of the US, I can’t help worrying that everything is changing, and not for the better. Iamproud of Reeve, and excited for his career, but there’s this kernel of doubt, taking up space inside my head and my heart, trying to prepare me for a future we haven’t planned.
I can’t explain it.
Maybe it’s a sixth sense or it’s paranoia, but it’s enough to have me trembling with fear and twisted into knots. I sincerely hope we are strong enough to weather whatever storm is on the horizon, because I already know that things will not be the same by the time he returns.
And it’s those thoughts that keep me up all night in the immediate aftermath of his leaving.