Page 79 of Shifting Gears

Nora sits up straight. She turns to look back at Dani with wide eyes, her brief attempt at humour forgotten.

“Yeah,” Dani says, laughing a little. “Sat and stared at my phone for an hour before I dialed the number. Then I heard your voice telling me my feelings mattered just as much as his.”

“How did it go? What did he say?”

“It was weird, but…good, I think,” Dani says carefully. “He said he’s wanted to reach out a couple times, but he was worried I hated him. He apologized. We both cried. We’re gonna talk again in a few days. So, thank you.”

“Dani, that’s ahugestep,” Nora says. “But there’s nothing to thank me for.”

“I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t suggested it. I probably would have let myself keep hurting forever to keep from inconveniencing him,” Dani says. She makes a small noise, almost like a laugh. “I wouldn’t even have realized what I was doing. Turns out he was hurting, too.”

“I’m really proud of you,” Nora says quietly. Whatever credence Dani is giving her, she doesn’t deserve it. She hasn’t even been able to bring herself to repeat her botched confession yet. “You’re braver than I’ve ever been.”

Dani doesn’t seem to be able to look at her, but Nora can see the ghost of a wry smile at the corner of her lips.

“It’s getting dark,” Dani says, pulling Nora closer to kiss her forehead. “Do you want to go home?”

Nora closes her eyes, pressing her head into Dani’s chin. She knows what Dani means by the question, but it strikes her suddenly just how much the meaning ofhomehas changed.

She doesn’t want to go home, because it feels like she’s there already.

“No,” Nora says softly. “I want to stay.”

Dani doesn’t argue, even as the sun sets and the mosquitos start to appear.

It’s one more example of all the ways Dani makes her feel welcomed here. Welcomed and safe and absolutely accepted. Dani holds her tight, admiring the now-permanent name carved into her favourite spot, and Nora clings to her while she still can.

They do head back to Nora’s place once they’ve collected a few bug bites, and when 2 a.m. comes and goes without a wink of sleep, Nora grabs her phone from the bedside table and opens her text thread with Kayla.

Eleanor:I have a few things to wrap up here. I need two more weeks.

Kayla’s reply comes quickly, despite the fact that it’s the middle of the night. It’s just as skeptical as Nora knew it would be.

Kayla:This is some serious self-denial you’ve got going on.

Eleanor: I need time to say goodbye.

On the other side of the bed, Dani shifts, seeking out Nora’s warmth, and wraps herself around Nora’s back with a pleased, sleepy noise.

Three little grey dots appear right away. Kayla is nothing if not prompt and honest.

Kayla:You’ve had months, honey. I think you know what you want.

Nora purses her lips. It’s cowardly to do this via text, avoiding what she knows will be a confrontation over the phone, but she stands firm in her decision.

Eleanor:Two more weeks. Schedule the board.

Kayla doesn’t reply after that. Nora sets her phone down, and instead of the crippling guilt she’d been expecting about cancelling yet another departure date, all she feels is relief. Shewilltell Dani everything before she leaves. Just not yet.

She still has some time.

* * *

Kayla stays quiet in the following days, as does Ash. Nora can assume they’re angry with her, but their ire is worth the delight in Dani’s eyes in the morning when Nora wakes her up with the news.

Just a little longer and Nora will be ready to let go and do what she needs to do. She’s sure of it.

She gets exactly five days.

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