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These girls reminded me so much of myself. I was wild like they were, and oftentimes, Dad didn’t know what to do with me. I could remember the way I’d roll my eyes when he yelled at me, and then do whatever I’d been doing even harder.

Agnes and Beatrice were the same.

“Are you really sure about this?” he asked.

“I am. I’ve so got this.”

Gabriel slowly nodded. “All right. Then I’ll get the last of my things together.”

Agnes called me to the couch again, and I went over after setting down my bag. It didn’t take long for Gabriel to pack, and I was listening to a long lecture about rocks when he came back out.

Seeing him walk out of his room with a suitcase hit harder than I expected. We hadn’t been talking when he packed up and left the first time, but this reminded me of that all the same.

My throat went tight and I had to fight the urge to ask exactly when he was coming back. I almost needed reassurance that I’d see him again.

Luckily, Agnes did it for me.

“Two days?” she asked.

“That’s right. You’re free of me for two days and then things will be back to normal.”

“Can you stay a week?” Beatrice asked.

“No,” Agnes said. “A week is a really long time.”

“So? At least we’ll have someone fun here.”

Agnes had really changed in the last few days. While she was still strong-willed, I could see that she almost wanted to be near Gabriel. When she first came to town, she wanted to be anywhere but.

“I think this will go quicker than we expect,” I said. “It’s just two days to plan some things.”

“Right,” Gabriel said, and then he checked his watch. “I should get going if I’m going to get to the Knoxville airport on time.”

Gabriel looked at the two girls, and I could almost see the question he wanted to ask.

“I think it’s time for hugs,” I suggested.

“Ew.” Beatrice rolled her eyes. “No.”

Agnes surprised us all. She jumped up and gave Gabriel a hug with no questions asked. Gabriel went stiff for a second before he gently returned it. Beatrice watched the exchange closely.

“I’ll see you soon.” Agnes’s voice was small. “You’re coming back, right?”

“I’ll do my best to.” Gabriel looked at Beatrice. “Do you want a wave or a hug?”

Beatrice’s bottom lip poked out and she lifted one hand in a subtle wave. Gabriel nodded and waved back at her.

Then his gaze landed on me.

I stiffened. This was the first time we actually got a goodbye. All those years ago, I told him to leave and never come back. While that was a type of goodbye, it certainly wasn’t on good terms.

Standing, I wiped my sweaty palms on my leggings. “Be safe. I hear it can be really dangerous in the city.”

Gabriel leaned in and then stopped himself. I had no idea what was on his mind.

“Ah, screw it.”

I opened my mouth to ask him what he was thinking, but then he pulled me into a tight hug. If it were anyone else, I’d push them away and lecture them on not asking me. But this was Gabriel. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I liked hugs like these.