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My tears are ridiculously close to the surface and I'm aware that the longer I stand here with him, the harder it will be not to let them fall. My voice is croaky and sounds like it hasn't been used for some time as I work to keep my emotions under control just a little bit longer.
“You did get me something. You got me that travel pillow and Neat ‘N Tidy travel packs. I swear I've got way more in my case than I thought I would.”
I force a smile. “That's great.”
He reaches his hand out, trying to pass me the envelope. “Anyway, I got you this. Please take it.”
Nervous and curious as to what he's giving me, I take the envelope and slowly open it. Inside is a red gift card from one of the local travel agencies in the area. When I turn it over and see how much he's put on there for me, I nearly fall over.
He moves towards me. “I want you to use this. It should be enough to buy you a return ticket to any place in the world.”
“It's too much, Dylan.”
“I knew you didn't want to spend money on travelling, especially when you plan on putting all your cash into a house. There's probably only enough for a ticket for one person, but...” He runs a hand through his hair, looking more awkward and nervous than I've ever seen him look before. “Come visit me, Claire. Either when you need me and you just want to talk, or...for any reason at all. I just need to know that I'm going to see you again soon.”
“Dylan...”
My voice cracks over his name, and then he's there, right in front of me, wrapping his large, solid arms around me and holding me like he doesn't want to let me go. I blink rapidly, willing – begging – my tears not to fall. I want to stop time – tohold on to this moment forever and never let him go – but he needs to get back to his farewell party.
His adventure is just beginning. This trip is something he's been excited about his entire life.
“You need to get back inside,” I say, trying to pull away and tearing my heart in two in the process.
“These past four months, I—” he starts.
“Yeah,” I say quickly, stopping him from saying anything more. “They've been really good.”
The past four months have been the most wonderful months of my life. He's shown me how to live, how to laugh and have fun. And I've realised I don't need a man to fit all the criteria on my list to fall in love with him. I just need Dylan.
Now I must pick up the pieces of my life and carry on without the only man I want a future with.
“I shouldn't keep Kara waiting any longer.”
I should say goodbye, but the word feels too final. We never talked about what would happen after he left. I don't know if he'll call, or if I'll hear news about him through Austin. We're done now – this casual thing is over between us – so there is nothing to stop him from hooking up with women overseas.
“I'll be seeing you.” He motions to the card in my hand and I nod.
“You will.”
He holds my gaze for a long moment, until my heart feels like it might explode just from looking into his eyes. Then he turns and starts walking back to the bar.
I force myself to stand there, memorising the lines and angles of his body. Then he stops with his hand on the door of the bar before turning and running back to me.
“What—”
He grabs me and kisses me. His kiss is frantic at first, as if he's trying to memorise my taste, before his lips eventually soften and he finally lets me go.
“I'm going to miss you more than anyone,” he whispers.
“I'll miss you, too.”I love you.
“Bye, Claire.”
This time, I'm the one who walks away. The tears I've held at bay slide down my face as I get into Kara's car. I shut the door behind me and wave to Dylan as he stays standing there.
“That looked intense,” Kara whispers as she pulls out of the pub's carpark.
“It felt intense.”
