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“At 3:24 a.m.?”

“Seemed like a good time for it.”

“Really?”

She could tell Devyn was moving toward her now, intermittentlyilluminated by patches of dim moonlight. She wore Elizabeth’s favorite worn-outarmy green T-shirt that saidNoFrillsacross the front. No longer any reason for the darkness nowthat Devyn was awake, she flipped on the small lamp she kept near the kitchentable. It had been her father’s favorite lamp to work by at night. Shedistinctly remembered the sound of the switch going on and off. Off meant timeto play. On meant quiet time for Elizabeth until he was done for the night.

“So, what’s going on?” Devyn asked, bleary eyed and blinking asshe adjusted to the new light.

“Oh, you know me. Someone who likes to have all hert’s crossed.”

Devyn blinked several more times and ran a hand through her hairas if trying to piece it all together. “We’re an uncrossedtfor you, aren’t we?This is about the conversation we had earlier?”

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around herself. “No. Well, yes. Thatand I was…thinking about my mom.” That was actually the truth. “I think tonightbrought up some memories. She left in the middle of the afternoon. I didn’trealize as I watched her pack that she’d never be back. I would have paid moreattention to the moment. Standing here now, I’m missing parts of how it playedout. What color her shirt was, and what the actual time was in the afternoon.Two o’clock? Three? I’ll never know.”

Devyn leaned against the counter next to her. “Maybe it’s betterthat you are missing some of it. I’m not sure a moment like that is one youwant to revisit with too much clarity.”

“It seems important, though, you know? To who I am? Someone whowas left. That’s me.”

Devyn studied her profile. Elizabeth wasn’t looking at her, butshe could feel that gaze caress her cheek with what? Sympathy. She didn’t lovethat, but at the same time it felt nice to have Devyn there to talk to. “Shedidn’t leave because of you, you know. If I had to guess, maybe she was justrunning from her life or from something within herself that she wasn’tcomfortable with. Who knows?”

Elizabeth turned and met Devyn’s gaze. “Sure felt like she wasleavingme.”

They stared at each other for a moment. No one broke eye contact.“We’re not just hooking up,” Devyn said, finally. The words were everything. “Ishould have made that clear earlier today. So, I’m saying it now.”

Elizabeth knew as much in her heart. There was too much tendernessin the way Devyn touched her and too much meaning behind her eyes for Elizabethnot to matter to her. But hearing Devyn say so made all the difference. “I hadso much fun with you tonight. It was the best night I’ve had in a long time.”She bit her lip and shook her head. “Maybe ever. That’s a bad thing.”

“No, it’s not.” Devyn placed her hands on Elizabeth’s waist andleaned back against the counter.

“Not yet. But we’re building a pretty impressive tower that hasthe potential to crash to the ground in what could be only a few weeks, for allI know.”

“Which means you cease to exist?” She searched Elizabeth’sfeatures.

She shrugged. “No. I’ll be here.”

“Good. I want you to always exist.” She pulled Elizabeth to herand nuzzled her hair. “We took the first step by talking about it, twice nowtoday, which gets us bonus points. Especially since I’m not someone who talksabout feelings.”

“I know. Thank you for indulging me.”

“The thing is, I don’t think we have to have all the answers, andmaybe, over the course of time before I leave, we’ll find them. It’s my hopethat we do.”

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Devyn’s neck and pressed herforehead to her chin. “When we’re together like this, it feels like everythingelse fades. That we’re the only two people. Is that just me?” She met Devyn’sbeautiful hazel eyes, her voice shifting to a whisper for the next part becauseit was the only way she’d get the words out. “I want so badly to believe youfeel it, too.”

Devyn nodded. “I feel it. It’s powerful, and all encompassing.”

“You don’t have to just say that because I did.”

“Would you stop?” Devyn disentangled herself and took a few stepsback to better see Elizabeth. “I’m in this, too, you know. You don’t have themonopoly on feelings, and I happen to be just as out of my depth as you are.But I know this: I’m a little crazy about you.”

“You are?” Elizabeth asked, trying to understand but not yetdaring to believe. The passion she saw flare said something, though. MaybeDevyn really was as invested. She allowed that news to comfort her and didn’tpush for more. She’d done enough of that, and knowing they were in thistogether was enough. “Then come back over here and take me to bed so I can finda way to switch off my brain.”

Devyn allowed a grin to blossom. She walked slowly back toElizabeth, the T-shirt brushing the tops of her thighs. She took Elizabeth’shand, intertwined their fingers, and brought them to her mouth for a kiss.“We’re going to need a nap tomorrow.”

“You’re really pretty,” Elizabeth said.

Devyn frowned. “Are you saying that as some kind of farewell? Likeyou’re memorizing my face? If so, then stop it. Because I will still be here inthe morning.”

“You’re right.” Elizabeth nodded and tucked a strand of hairbehind Devyn’s ear. She wasn’t just pretty to Elizabeth, she waslose-your-thought-mid-sentence beautiful, even in the dead of the night, sansmakeup, sans wardrobe, stripped down to just her. Part of that had to do withthe person underneath and the bond they’d formed. She tried not to think abouthow much more there was she still wanted to do with Devyn. See movies, have apicnic, and maybe that bottle of wine on the beach at sunset. What would it belike to come home from a long day and just make dinner together? She had afeeling they’d complement each other really well. Nope. Too much to process forclose to four a.m.