Page 83 of When You Smile

She made her way up the walk and knocked twice, aware of the sound of her heart beating alongside the chirping crickets. Charlie answered with a polite smile that gave nothing away. Her hair was down, looking soft and like she’d just run her fingers through it, probably as she was walking to the door. “Hey, come on in.”

Taryn did. “You have an MFA now.” She rocked forward and back on her heels like an amateur. But that was okay. She was here and doing this. “Has it sunk in?”

“No,” Charlie said with a smile. She glanced behind her. “Can I get you something to drink? Wine? It’s Saturday after all.”

“No, thank you.” She honestly couldn’t imagine consuming anything, in this moment that was laced with so much tension, she almost couldn’t move. “Did you get a chance to celebrate?”

“Nothing fancy. We went to Toby’s one last time.” She leaned back against the counter. Her gray joggers and pink T-shirt meant she was in relaxing mode, in for the night. “Had a round of beers just like we used to do after a particularly hard class. I’m going to miss them all, eclectic little family that we are.”

Taryn nodded. “End of an era.”

“Do you know what I don’t want it to be the end of?” She paused, the ends of her mouth turning down for a moment as emotion overwhelmed. “Us.” Her blue eyes glistened with tears. Did that mean what Taryn thought it meant?

She blinked and played the admission back to be sure she was interpreting it correctly. “What are you saying? Could you please make it very clear because I don’t want to leap to any conclusions if you just mean—”

Charlie’s mouth on hers silenced the request. She heard herself murmur happily as their lips clung and then began to move, slowly at first and then with more determination. They were making up for lost time, breathing in the same air, memorizing each other, an exploration of what had been lost and what could be regained. Taryn’s arms went around Charlie’s waist, pulling her impossibly closer, never wanting to let go ever again.

“This right here,” Charlie said, hand on Taryn’s heart. “This is what I need. You are what I need.” She found Taryn’s eyes. “If we do this, you can’t for a second let anything come between us. Do you hear me?”

“Not gonna happen. I swear to you.” Charlie kissed her softly in silent promise. “You make me brave, and I will fight every damn chance I get for you, for us. That’s not something you ever have to worry about again.”

“I love you,” Charlie said quietly. “I was so mad at you, but I never stopped loving you.”

“I know,” Taryn said, resting her forehead against Charlie’s. “I was so proud of you today.”

“I felt it.” Charlie covered her mouth as if remembering something. “Your parents were there and adorable.”

“They drove up this morning.” Taryn placed her hand on her head. “They insisted. I couldn’t keep them away.”

Charlie laughed. “It was the sweetest. I need to give them a call and say thank you.”

“Definitely.” Taryn stole another kiss and threaded their fingers. “But maybe not tonight?”

Charlie’s arms went automatically around Taryn’s neck. “Why? Did you have other plans for us?”

Taryn kissed the underside of her jaw. “I just forget what your room looks like is all.”

“Oh yeah? You want me to remind you?”

Another kiss. “Yes, please.”

Charlie cupped her cheek, smiled, and led the way.

They made love by the light of the moon slanting in through Charlie’s window, and Taryn didn’t take a single kiss, touch, or sigh for granted. When the night shifted into early morning, they were still awake catching each other up, Charlie in Taryn’s arms laughing at the story of Caz locking herself in the bathroom.

“You’re going to have keep me up to date on all the shenanigans once I go.”

“Brooklyn, right?”

Charlie nodded. “I’m going to teach.”

“Those undergrads have no idea what’s about to hit them.”

Charlie slid more fully on top and looked down at Taryn. “But I have the whole summer to write and settle in. Do you think you’d want to visit?”

“What if I more than visited? I hear they have summer school in New York. I could pick up a few credits there just as easily as here.”

Charlie’s eyes went wide. “You want to come to New York for the summer?”

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