Page 47 of Last Letters to Ara
When he asks for a decaf to-go, my stomach sinks, knowing that he’s not planning to stay. Lou gives me an amused look and leaves us alone to make his coffee. In her previous job, she was a certified barista, which means she’s way more suited for this position than I ever was.
“So, what brought you to the airport this evening?” I take the seat across from Theo.
His eyes widen and shoot toward the back, looking for signs of danger.
“It’s okay, Jabba isn’t here tonight, and I’ve already shown the new girl pretty much everything. She’s way more qualified than I am.”
“Thank God, not sure I could have choked down another cup of battery acid,” Theo says with a wink. “Actually, on second thought, that’s offensive to battery acid.”
“Hey!!!” I say with a scoff, reaching across the table to smack him on the arm.
His smile warms. “I guess I didn’t need to come check on you after all.”
“I still appreciate the gesture.” I do. A weight I didn’t know I’d been carrying with me lifts from my heart at the realization that we haven’t lost...whatever this is. Something more than friends and less than...anything else.
Lou brings Theo his coffee, sporting a curious smile and he accepts it graciously.
“I should probably get back to work.”
“Yeah, all good, I wasn’t planning on staying.”
We both stand, still facing each other. As his eyes meet mine, I momentarily forget that Lou is still standing here, watching us like she’s at a live taping ofJerry Springer. My worries about things being ruined between us slip away. Everything is exactly as it’s supposed to be.
For now.
“Friends?” Theo asks.
“Friends,” I say with a relieved smile.
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me against him. Even if I had forever to hug Theo, it wouldn’t be enough. Filling my lungs with his clean scent, I find myself wishing I could bottle it up for whenever I missed it, like a fucking serial killer.
We pull back, Theo playfully tugging on a loose strand of my hair before turning to walk away. “I’ll see you soon, Ara.”
Speechless, I turn back to Lou, a funny look on her face.
“If I don’t get hugged like that before I die, then all of this was a waste of my goddamn time. Y’all somehow just turned a damn embrace into...I don’t even knowwhatthat was, but it was hotter than hell.” Lou fans herself with one of the napkins.
And I look for something to fan myself with too.
• • •
Since Lou is a fast learner and it’s been a slow night, we decide to close a bit early. To my extreme embarrassment, the boys decided to throw a little going away party for me. Joel even managed to sneak in some beers, and I offered to split mine with Lou since I’d be driving home soon, and they were only expecting the three of us.
“Should we sing something?” Dan asks.
“I will turn around and walk out of here if you so much as open your mouth. Singing on birthdays is bad enough.” I push away the thought of whose birthday, as well as my own, that I’ll be celebrating alone this year.
Grabbing a knife from Joel’s collection, I cut right into the disaster we are calling a cake.
Chocolate.My favorite.
“Okay, who wants a giant piece?” I offer.
Lou surprises me by swiping for it instantly, noting my reaction. “What? I love cake.”
No shame.I like her.I cut myself an equally gigantic piece and hand the knife over to Joel. “You boys can serve yourselves.”
Lou finally gives in to her curiosity. “So, what’s the deal between you and that guy?”
