Page 156 of Holly Jolly July

I love that she still asks permission. “Of course not.”

Our tea arrives and I prepare it for both of us, stirring in two packs of sugar and a splash of cream for Ellie and one sugar and one cream for myself, then continuing to stir them both while peeking over Ellie’s shoulder as she uploads the image to Instagram and writes a quick caption.

“Posted,” she states.

I open my phone to read it, my heart rising in my throat as the long line of images we’ve been in together for the past week appears: Ellie and I on a tandem bike in Stanley Park, Ellie and I drinking margaritas at Tacofino, Ellie and I lounging at Wreck Beach (we were wearing our bikinis for the photo, of course). And now this, our last one together, her smile just as bright as I’d imagined, me looking like I know I’m the luckiest woman in the world.

The caption reads:It’s been a whirlwind week since Mariah and I started dating! It’s gone by way too fast. But it isn’t the end. Mariah is going down to LA to kick some ass working on an awesome new project, and I’ll be joining her in a few months (eep!). I already have a few auditions lined up, so it may be a permanent move for me, too. No idea what the future holds, but something tells me it’s going to be amazing. The hardest part will be saying goodbye to this beautiful soul for the next few months, until we’re back together again under the hot blue skies of California! Make sure you follow her at @mariahmakeupfx to track her incredible journey.

I lean over and press a kiss to Ellie’s cheek, so proud to call her mine.

Ellie checks the time. “As much as I hate to say this, we should get going. Better to be there early for international flights.”

We get into Ellie’s car one last time. Every kilometre closer to the YVR airport brings with it an increased weight in my stomach, the cheesecake settling horribly and making me wish I’d stopped at dinner.

She pulls in between a long line of cars at the departure drop-off area, the air hot and humid even though it’s almost sunset. After parking, Ellie and I both get out to grab my two suitcases and carry-on, everything I’ll be living with until the shipment arrives at my new place.

Ellie shuts the trunk and joins me on the sidewalk, standing a foot away, regarding me with those big eyes of hers. “Well,” she says, “I guess this is goodbye.”

“I don’t want to say goodbye,” I state.

She smiles despite how sad I know she is, because that’s what she does. She’s a ray of sunshine in a storm cloud, reminding everyone there are always clear skies above. “Then we won’t say goodbye.”

“What will we say?”

She thinks for a moment, then tilts her head to the side. “See you later, alligator.”

I chuckle. “Oh my god, it’s the last time I’m seeing you for two whole months, I’m not going to end it with ‘in a while, crocodile.’”

She snaps and points finger guns at me like a mischievous imp. “But you did!”

I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile she’s brought to my face. Ellie wraps me in a hug, laying her head on my chest. I stroke her hair and kiss her forehead, relishing the warmth of her embrace. “I’m going to miss you,” I whisper.

I feel her nod. “I know. But we can FaceTime whenever you want, and I’ll be bothering you with texts all the time, and you’ll be so busy with work and exploring your new digs and I’ll have my own stuff going on, and—”

“Ellie?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

She freezes, her grip tightening. Then, she lifts herself away from me so she can look in my eyes. “You do?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

Her eyes well with tears. “I love you, too.”

I kiss her forehead again. “Promise me you’ll let yourself cry when you get sad, okay?”

As if on command, a tear slips down her cheek. “I will.”

I kiss her tear away, tasting the salt on my lips.

“Promise me you’ll try to remember how to smile,” she says, giggling despite her tears, in true Ellie fashion.

I huff a laugh through my nose. “Even if I do forget to smile, you’ll be there in two months to show me how all over again.”

Ellie lifts onto her toes and presses her lips against mine, and we savour one another like the last bite of cheesecake, not wanting it to end, but knowing that all things in this world do, and part of something being so special and magical is that it doesn’t last forever.

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