“Don’t want to steal this,” she said. “But I might need more caffeine. Can I buy you a coffee?”
“You’d have to drink it before security. Do you have enough time?”
“There’s like no line, Erin. It’s fine. As long as you’re okay maybe paying for parking? It said it was only free for the first half hour.”
Erin quirked an eyebrow and echoed Cassie’s words back to her. “It’s like four dollars, Cassie. It’s fine.”
There was a Starbucks near the baggage claim. Cassie bought a vanilla latte for Erin and a caramel macchiato for herself. Their fingers touched when Cassie handed over the cup. Erin smiled at her, and Cassie looked away, her cheeks warm. It was too early.
They sat on a bench by the window, Cassie’s carry-on tucked beside them. Neither said anything. What were you supposed to say to your friend’s mom at the end of your … affair or whatever the fuck they were calling this? Cassie slouched in her seat, stretched her legs out. If her ankle came to rest against Erin’s, so be it. Erin’s eyes crinkled at their corners, and Cassie was pretty sure she was hiding a smile behind her coffee cup. Cassie’s face flushed hotter.
Eventually, there was nothing to do but go through security.
Erin walked her upstairs. It was still too early for the line to be anything other than short, so Cassie and Erin stood off to the side. Cassie shoved her hands in her coat pockets. Erin scratched at her neck.
“So this was fun,” Cassie said. She shifted on her feet.
“Don’t make this awkward, Cassie,” Erin said.
“I’m not!” Cassie protested, knowing she was. “It was fun, for real.”
“It was.”
“Yeah, I’m really glad you stopped denying my hotness.” Cassie grinned.
Erin shoved her shoulder. “You’re an idiot.”
“So I’ve been told.”
There was a moment where they just stood there smiling at each other, then Cassie wasn’t really sure who moved first but suddenly they were kissing.
She was mildly aware that they were in public, but she didn’t really care that they were kissing too hard to be family friendly. Almost no one was at the airport. So they were giving the TSA guys a little thrill, who cared?
She was wobbly on her feet when they pulled back, and Erin kept her hands on Cassie’s hips until she was steady. Erin grinned like she knew the effect she had. Cassie kissed her again, quick, to wipe it off her face.
“Thanks for bringing me to the airport,” she said, hefting her carry-on more securely over her shoulder.
“Have a good semester,” Erin said.
Cassie didn’t look back until she was through security. Erin was in the same place she’d left her. She gave a wave, and Cassie swallowed thickly before giving a brief nod and turning to go.
Cassie was eating dinner that night, settled in and comfortable in her apartment, when she got a text.
Erin [7:23 PM]
You got me sick Cassie [7:24 PM]
I told you not to kiss me! It’s not my fault!
Cassie [7:24 PM]
I hope you feel better tho. At least it’s just like a 24 hour bug Erin [7:25 PM]
It was worth it;）
Fourteen
ERIN
Even after five whole years of talking to Carolyn, Erin still felt like she should ask her therapist more about her own life, like she shouldn’t take up the entire hour talking about herself, which was literally what she was paying for. She always got over the impulse once she got on a roll, but she stumbled through the first few minutes of conversation.
“Did you have a good holiday?” Erin asked.
“I did, thank you,” Carolyn said. “How about you?”
Erin nodded. “It was nice.”
“Parker was home, right? Is she still there?”
“She is,” Erin said. “I’ve got her for another week.”
“How’s that going?”
“Great.” It was an instinctual response. Don’t admit weakness. Don’t let anyone know you’re not perfect. Erin took a breath and tried again. “Pretty good, for the most part. She brought a friend home for the first two weeks, which I was worried about, but I think it helped.”
“Why were you worried about it?”
Erin had never intentionally lied to her therapist before. It seemed like that defeated the point of therapy.
She was absolutely lying about this.
“I think I was afraid Parker would use her friend as an excuse to not interact with me? Which—I know that doesn’t make sense. We’re doing well. Better than we have been for a long time. We’re past her not interacting with me, I hope.”