“Trent and I passed a group of kids on the way out. I wonder if they made it. They looked so scared . . .”
Abby’s hands began to tremble, so I comforted her the only way I knew how. I held her.
She relaxed against my chest and sighed. Her breathing evened out, and she nuzzled her cheek deeper into my skin. For the first time since we’d gotten back together, I felt completely at ease with her, as if we’d returned to the way things were before Vegas.
“Travis?”
I lowered my chin and whispered into her hair. “What, baby?”
Our phones rang in unison, and she simultaneously answered hers while she handed me mine.
“Hello?”
“Travis? You all right, man?”
“Yeah, buddy. We’re okay.”
“I’m okay, Mare. We’re all okay,” Abby said, reassuring America on the other line.
“Mom and Dad are freaking out. We’re watching it on the news right now. I didn’t tell them you would be there. What?” Shepley pulled his face away from the phone to answer his parents. “No, Mom. Yeah, I’m talking to him! He’s fine! They’re at the apartment! So,” he continued, “what the hell happened?”
“Fucking lanterns. Adam didn’t want any bright lights drawing attention and getting us busted. One caught the whole fucking place on fire . . . it’s bad, Shep. A lot of people died.”
Shepley breathed deep. “Anyone we know?”
“I don’t know, yet.”
“I’m glad you’re okay, brother. I’m . . . Jesus, I’m glad you’re ok ay.”
Abby described the horrific moments when she was stumbling through the dark, trying to find her way out.
I winced when she recounted how she dug her fingers into the window when she tried to get it open.
“Mare, don’t leave early. We’re fine,” Abby said. “We’re fine,” she said again, this time with emphasis. “You can hug me on Friday. I love you, too. Have a good time.”
I pressed my cell phone tight against my ear. “Better hug your girl, Shep. She sounds upset.”
Shepley sighed. “I just . . .” He sighed again.
“I know, man.”
“I love you. You’re as much a brother as I could ever have.”
“Me, too. See you soon.”
After Abby and I hung up our phones, we sat in silence, still processing what had happened. I leaned back against the pillow, and then pulled Abby against my chest.
“America all right?”
“She’s upset. She’ll be okay.”
“I’m glad they weren’t there.”
I could feel Abby’s jaw working against my skin, and I inwardly cursed myself for giving her more gruesome thoughts.
“Me, too,” she said with a shiver.
“I’m sorry. You’ve been through a lot tonight. I don’t need to add anything else to your plate.”
“You were there, too, Trav.”
I thought about what it was like, searching for Abby in the dark, not knowing if I would find her, and then finally kicking through that door and seeing her face.
“I don’t get scared very often,” I said. “I was scared the first morning I woke up and you weren’t here. I was scared when you left me after Vegas. I was scared when I thought I was going to have to tell my dad that Trent had died in that building. But when I saw you across the flames in that basement . . . I was terrified. I made it to the door, was a few feet from the exit, and I couldn’t leave.”
“What do you mean? Are you crazy?” she asked, her head jerking up to look into my eyes.
“I’ve never been so clear about anything in my life. I turned around, made my way to that room you were in, and there you were. Nothing else mattered. I didn’t even know if we would make it out or not, I just wanted to be where you were, whatever that meant. The only thing I’m afraid of is a life without you, Pigeon.”
Abby leaned forward, softly kissing my lips. When our mouths parted, she smiled. “Then you have nothing to be afraid of. We’re forever.”
I sighed. “I’d do it all over again, you know. I wouldn’t trade one second if it meant we were right here, in this moment.”
She took in a deep breath, and I gently kissed her forehead.
“This is it,” I whispered.
“What?”
“The moment. When I watch you sleeping . . . that peace on your face? This is it. I haven’t had it since before my mom died, but I can feel it again.” I took another deep breath and pulled her closer. “I knew the second I met you that there was something about you I needed. Turns out it wasn’t something about you at all. It was just you.”
Abby offered a tired smile as she buried her face into my chest. “It’s us, Trav. Nothing makes sense unless we’re together. Have you noticed that?”
“Noticed? I’ve been telling you that all year!” I teased. “It’s official. Bimbos, fights, leaving, Parker, Vegas . . . even fires . . . our relationship can withstand anything.”
She lifted her head, her eyes fixed on mine. I could see a plan forming behind her irises. For the first time, I didn’t worry what her next step would be, because I knew in my core whatever path she chose, it would be a path we walked together.