Page 24 of Champagne & Handcuffs

“You doing okay?” I reached out and brushed my fingers on top of her hand. It had been a long time since I’d slept with a virgin, but I knew the following day wasn’t a comfortable one. My high school girlfriend had madesureI knew that.

Cat smiled. “Yeah, just a little sore.”

Before I could respond, Joss walked back into the kitchen. “Sorry, guys. I’m just—”

Cat stood and went to Joss, wrapping her arms around her. “You don’t need to be sorry. We get it. Just know we’re here for you.”

“I think I’m starting my period soon.”

“No, we arenottalking about that shit,” I stated as I stood.

Cat punched my arm. “Grow up.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “I’m pretty sure you know I’m a man.”

She smirked. “Group hug for old times’ sake?”

We all moved together, hugging just like we used to do during the summers I spent with these two crazy ass chicks.

DrivingCat to the airport brought back so many memories from our childhood. When I was ten, I didn’t want to go to Florida. Then over the years, especially as I got older, I didn’t want to leave. This was similar. I didn’t want Cat to leave, but I’d followed my dreams, and I had to let her follow hers. Maybe after she’s done with school, she would decide to move to D.C.

I think we were all feeling the same way because, on the way to the airport, the three of us were quiet. Then it happened, and my heart squeezed a little more. The guitar started strumming in my speakers, and before the first note was sung, Cat’s head turned to me.

“You have this song on your phone?”

Applehad recently come out with a phone that allowed you to store music. I’d transferred my music to my phone and made sureYou and Meby Lifehouse was on there.

“Of course I do.”

We sang along to the words, and after the night before, the words were truer.

“Will you come back?” Joss asked from the backseat as I pulled into the airport.

“Of course. Just don’t know when.” Cat shrugged.

“I hope soon. Maybe we can go to the strip club finally.”

My eyes darted to Cat’s, and she laughed. “Yes, we could check that off our bucket list.”

I shook my head. “Call me when you get home so I know you made it.” I pulled up to the departures.

“I will.”

All three of us got out of my Tahoe,and while the girls said their goodbyes, I grabbed Cat’s suitcase. After they had their moment, I walked up to Cat, wrapped my arms around her and whispered in her ear, “It’s always been you and me, Kitty Cat.”

She pulled her head back, her chocolate eyes staring up at me. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, and I wanna doitagain.” I needed her to know that it wasn’t a one-time thing.

“Yeah?” she asked again.

“Yeah. We’ll figure it out.”

“Figure what out?” Joss asked.

I looked over at her. “Getting Cat back here for a visit.” That was only half of a lie—or just not the entire truth. With my arms around Cat, I pulled her to me again. “I’m gonna miss you, you know?”

“I’ll miss you too, 5-0.”