Page 69 of Finding Romance
He presses his forehead to mine and we stay like that for a while. Neither of us speaks, yet it feels like we’re saying goodbye. Is this how relationships end? Is this practice for the next time I break up with a guy or he stops calling me?
But then Kasen pulls out of me and gets out of bed. “Come on, let’s shower,” he suggests.
I follow him into the bathroom where we take our time washing and shampooing each other. He dries me off as if I’m made of glass and will break if he presses too hard.
Then I throw my clothes back on and walk to his door. Turning, I look up at him. He reaches out and caresses my cheek with the back of his hand.
“Safe travels, Piper,” he says. He leans forward and kisses my lips. But instead of deepening the kiss, we both just stand there with our lips touching, neither of us moving for long seconds.
When he pulls back, he gives me a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Goodbye.”
I swallow a lump in my throat. If he’s saying goodbye, then he means it. Our practice relationship is over.
“Goodbye, Kasen,” I say in a barely audible voice as I quickly turn and leave, forcing myself not to look back as I open my aunt’s door and grab a change of clothes from my bag before locking myself in the bathroom to change and to let my tears flow freely.
“How was your night?” Aunt Cornelia says from her chair where, from the sound of her voice, she’s clearly just woken up.
“Fine, thanks. I’m just going to get ready for my flight,” I manage.
I furiously wipe at my tears, angry at myself for falling for a man who only promised to teach me to date. He never promised me his love in return.
I should be happy to have had him, to have had a friend like him. But instead, my heart is broken into a thousand little pieces. I should have just told him. I should march my ass back over there and tell him that I’ve fallen for him.
Placing my hand on the doorknob, I contemplate it. But then I chicken out. I focus on changing and brushing my hair, pulling it into a messy bun on top of my head.
I exit the bathroom after brushing my teeth and quickly pack my suitcase. Then, taking a deep breath, I walk into the living room and try to give Aunt Cornelia a big smile.
“You need anything before I leave?” I ask.
She looks at me suspiciously and then at my neck.
“Oh, oops. I almost forgot. Guess what I found last night. We got stuck in the elevator and uh…anyhow, I found your necklace,” I stammer as I take it off and hand it to her.
She doesn’t accept it. Instead, she wraps my hand around it. “You keep it, Piper. Your uncle Bob would have loved seeing you wear it.”
I frown as I open my hand and look down at it. It’s so tied to her. “I—I can’t. It’s yours,” I splutter.
“Come here,” Aunt Cornelia says in her crackly, old voice.
I take the seat next to her. “Are you sure you want to leave?”
I press my lips together because deep down, my mind is screaming “No!” but instead I just nod.
“I see. Well, if you change your mind, you’re always welcome here, Piper,” she says as she pats my hand.
“Thank you,” I reply and I secure the necklace back around my neck.
“You off to the airport?” Margie asks as she walks in from the kitchen.
“Yeah. I should probably head over there. Thanks for letting me keep my car here and tell Al thanks for letting me use the extra parking spot,” I answer. Standing, I lean down and hug my aunt.
“I’ll miss you, beautiful girl. Just remember, trust your instincts. You see more than you think,” she whispers in my ear, and I have to fight back tears.
“OK,” I reply. I walk over, hug Margie, and order a car.
Instead of taking the elevator, I start down the stairs with my suitcase. Hutch is coming up the stairs and sees me.
“Can I carry that for you?” he asks and then looks past me as if he’s expecting to see someone.
