Chapter 6

“This was far better than dessert,” I said, banter filling the room and lifting my spirits for the first time in a while.

“How do you feel?” he asked, running his large basketball hand through my forest of chest hair.

My heart hammered at his touch, reassuring and innocent. I didn’t want him to go back to Albany. “Like you were never gone.”

We stayed in bed for another hour, time passing and Dave in my arms giving me reason to hope for another chance.

But then my bubble burst, sadness settling over us like a dark cloud, and my limbs prickled, going numb. I didn’t know what to say or how to feel when Dave told me he had to leave.

“You’re more than welcome to stay the night,” I said. “We can have breakfast tomorrow at the restaurant before you head back home.”

“It’ll be Sunday. It won’t be open.”

“I’ve got a key.”

He didn’t respond. He looked grave, looking away, to the bare wall, speechless.