Page 94 of Shifting Gears

A seam rips somewhere between Nora’s legs, but she could care less about the state of her zipper. Maybe they should be talking first, discussing why Nora has turned up out of the blue, but this feelsright—this is how they’ve communicated from the start, how Nora first opened up, how she came to understand so much about who Dani is. This is the root of their connection, and it feels as natural as a conversation. Itisa conversation. Dani is telling her everything she needs to know.

With a gentle rock of Nora’s hips, Dani is inside her again, and nothing else matters. Not the cold, not the untinted windows, not the months of distance or the difficult angle. Nothing matters besides the sweet curl of Dani’s fingers, the heat of her mouth, the reverence in her voice as she whispersNora’s name.

She needs the closeness, needs Dani around her and within her, and Dani reflects that need right back; she manages to leverage her thumb against Nora’s clit, and even without the room to move her hand, it’s enough. Nora rocks against her in a constant rhythm, whimpering into Dani’s mouth with her hands clenched in the damp material of Dani’s sweater. Pressing in for more. Closer.Closer.

Release hits like a sigh—a settling, after months of being adrift. Nora clings to Dani’s shoulders, sharing her breath, and in the absolute stillness that follows, Nora’s surety about her decision cements itself.

For as long as Dani will have her, this is home.

“You’re here,” Dani says quietly, so quietly that Nora almost doesn’t hear it over the sound of the heating system and her own thundering heartbeat. “Are you—”

Dani’s voice gives out before she can finish. Her eyes well up with tears so quickly that she buries her face in Nora’s shoulder to hide them. The sight of them is unfamiliar. Nora had been a total mess the day she left, but Dani hadn’t cried. Nora hasneverseen Dani cry. Now Dani’s shoulders are shaking, tense and tight like she’s still trying to hold it in.

Nora pulls off Dani’s hat and strokes her hair, spreading a firm and comforting hand over the back of Dani’s neck as hot tears hit her skin.

“I love you, Dani,” Nora says. Not in a whisper, not like a secret—she says it clearly, with feeling. So clearly that Dani can’t possibly doubt its authenticity. “I fell in love with you this summer.”

Dani stiffens. Nora has no idea whether it’s a sign of shock or discomfort, but she plows onward through the rest of her thoughts before she can convince herself not to.

“Nothing felt right when I went back to the city. Nothing fit anymore. I never wanted to leave you, and I guess I never really let go of this place.” Nora takes a deep breath, grounding herself. The words feel easier the more she keeps talking. “I never let go of you.”

Dani finally pulls her face free of Nora’s shoulder. Her eyes are red-rimmed and devastated as she sniffles. “What does that mean?”

“I’m stepping down at CromTech.”

It’s a decision Nora made before she even left the city, the moment she admitted what she really wants. Technically there’s still a great deal of work to do to make it all official, but in all ways besides legality, Nora is ready.

“You’re…what?” Dani looks dazed, like she’s hardly daring to hope.

Nora kisses the tip of her cold nose. “I hate it there. I’ve always hated it there, but I didn’t think there was another option.” She presses their foreheads together, letting her eyes fall closed. The truck’s interior lights glow yellow behind her lids. “I thought that being unfulfilled was just the way it had to be. I wasn’t supposed to fall for you.”

“Nora,” Dani says, sounding breathy and confused, but Nora soldiers on.

“I was happier here than I’ve ever been. And it wasn’t because I was on vacation, it’s because I love it here. I love you.”

Nora punctuates the truth with a deep kiss. Dani returns it with verve, and by the time they pull apart again, they’re both breathless.

“So you want to stay?” Dani says.

“As long as you want me to.”

Dani laughs, wiping at her face and looking more than a little shell-shocked. “Well, jeez, Nora. Ten minutes ago I was sitting in that tree house and thinking that I’d never see you again, and now…”

“It’s okay if you’re not totally sure. I know I sprung this on you, so if you don’t want—”

“I love you, too,” Dani interrupts, halting Nora’s speech in its tracks.

Nora’s heart does an elegant pirouette.

“Oh,” Nora breathes. She hadn’t really expected Dani to say it back, but now that she has, Nora is giddy with it. The words are pure helium. “That’s…that’s good.”

“Yeah. So you coming back and saying you want to be here? That you want to stay?” Dani laughs a little, disbelief in every syllable. “You know, if you had even hinted that you wanted me to, I would have gone after you.”

“I know. I was too afraid. I don’t want to be afraid anymore. I’m tired of running from the hard things.”

“I really hope this isn’t a dream,” Dani whispers, bringing one of Nora’s cold hands to her mouth and kissing her knuckles.

Nora has run out of words. All she can do is wrap her arms tight around Dani’s shoulders and let all the stress of the last three months leave her body.

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