Dallas squeezed Quinn’s hand. “We’ll figure it out. I
promised that, and I’m going to promise it to you again,
because I truly believe it. The time will go fast.”
“Yes.”
“You have to come to Tampa. It’s amazing. It’s so pretty.”
“For sure. I have to meet Whiskers sometime, don’t I?”
Dallas grinned. “Yes. He’ll want to meet you for sure. If
you bring a bag of cat treats and a catnip mouse, he’ll be your
friend forever.”
“I’ll remember.”
They clung to each other’s hands. The silence crept up
between them again. Dallas didn’t want to check her phone,
but she had to shift it on the couch’s armrest so that it turned
on. She was cutting it close as it was. She really had to go.
Quinn knew it too. “I’ll walk you to the door.” She
reluctantly removed her hand and stood.
When they reached the door, they just stood there.
“Come here,” Quinn said, caving first. She threw herself at
Dallas and they hugged tightly.
Somehow, they both managed not to cry. Dallas knew that
she could do that later. As in, a few minutes later, in her car on
the way back to the hotel. Probably at the hotel. Back in the
car on the way to the airport. Likely in the airport bathroom.
Probably on the plane. Certainly when she got back home to
her own place.
Quinn kissed Dallas and Dallas kissed her back. Fiercely.
Protectively. Lovingly. They had that final moment, that
mom
ent that she wished she could stretch out into a thousand
years, and then she had to say goodbye and step out the door.