“You’re being quiet,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I glanced down at her. She was looking at me like she already knew what I was thinking—because she probably did.
“I’m trying to think,” I admitted.
“That’s usually my thing.”
I chuckled, wrapping my arm tighter around her. “You’re rubbing off on me,Amore mio.”
She sighed and tilted her face toward mine. “Say it.”
“Say what?”
She nudged me gently. “What you’re thinking.”
I hesitated, then spoke, “That I don’t want this week to end. And I don’t want you to leave yet.”
She didn’t say anything right away. Her hand stilled on my chest. Then she nodded, slowly, eyes tracing the lines of my face like she was memorizing them.
“Me neither.”
“I’ve been trying not to bring it up because I didn’t want to ruin anything.”
“It’s not ruining it,” she said.
I nodded. “It’s just… I feel like I just got you. And now I’m supposed to pretend I’m okay with watching you go.”
“I’m not goingforever, Teddy.”
“I know,” I said quietly. “But it still feels like I’m being robbed of something.”
“I get it,” she said, looking down as her fingers brushed against the tattoo on my rib. “I’ve been trying not to get too attached.”
I turned to her fully. “That working out for you?”
Her mouth lifted in a sad little smile. “Not even a little.”
Silence fell again. Not heavy. Just… full of everything we weren’t ready to say and everything we already felt.
“I could come visit,” she offered, still tracing the same pattern on my skin. “Oryou could come to New York.”
“I could,” I said, and I meant it.
She looked up at me. “No, Teddy. I mean like,livein New York.”
“Carmen,” I sighed. “I have to work,Amore mio.”
She looked down at her fingers again. “Okay.”
“I’ll visit.”
“I know,” she nodded. “But it’s not the same.”
“I know.”
I looked up at the ceiling, forcing myself to say what I’d been holding in.
“I never did anything like this before,” I confessed. “I’ve never been attached like this. I’ve never made space for anyone in my life the way I’ve made space for you. I just love you so fucking much, Carmen.”
