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she said, her eyebrows raised. She looked at Gabby. “He thinks he’s funny.” She stabbed at her chicken. “Twenty-five days, Adam. I have to leave in twenty-five days.”
    I realized then that she was more concerned about her internship than I knew. Than any of us knew. We spent the lunch hour comforting Liz, and reminding her that she made top marks in all her classes, that our training sessions had gone without a hitch.
    That night, I awoke to the sharp sound of a gasp. I sat up, trying to find Gabby before she slugged me.
    “I’m sorry,” I said quickly, shielding my face.
    The silence felt so loud. Then she laughed, and her bedroom light flared on. “You should see yourself.”
    I squinted into the light as she entered her living room. Though she’d laughed, she didn’t look happy. “What are you doing here?”
    “Sleeping?” I tried.
    “Obviously.” She crossed her arms. “The real question is why?”
    “My room is very…stressful,” I said. “And often occupied.”
    “Often?” Her voice pitched into the rafters.
    Tornadoes. I scrubbed the back of my head. “Uh, I’m leaving for Hesterton in the morning. I won’t bother you for at least a week.”
    She exhaled as she sat on the couch opposite from me. “You don’t bother me,” she said. “If you needed somewhere to sleep, you should’ve said something.”
    “I didn’t need anywhere to sleep,” I said. “Your balcony door was always open.”
    She glanced at the glass like it was to blame for me being here in the dead of night.
    “I didn’t mean to scare you,” I said. “I thought you’d be mad if you found out I’d been staying over.”
    “What time do you have to wake up to get out of here?” she asked. “I mean, I’ve been getting up—”
    “By five o’clock,” I said, yawning. “I know.”
    She watched me, a look I couldn’t read in her eyes. I settled back into the pillows, wishing I could go back to sleep.
    “I didn’t even go to bed until midnight,” she said.
    “I know,” I repeated, closing my eyes. “And you should probably start locking your balcony door while I’m gone.”
    I heard the couch squeak, heard her footsteps come closer. But I didn’t connect the dots until she slid onto the couch next to me, forming her back to my chest. I shifted so she’d have more room, and then I placed my hand over her waist. She felt so hot, I almost complained. But I didn’t. I hadn’t initiated anything romantic between us for a long time, knowing that she needed time. More importantly, I needed time. Time to grieve, time to find my center, time to heal.
    “I don’t know what I’ll do without you,” she whispered.
    My heart swelled; my throat felt too dry. “You’ll be fine,” I said. “I’m just taking a vacation, not leaving forever.”
    “I know,” she said. “But….”
    “You’ll miss me,” I supplied for her, surprised when she snuggled closer and nodded against my chest.
    “I’ll miss you too,” I said, my lips dangerously close to her ear. I pressed my mouth to her neck and enjoyed the way she arched into me, a clear invitation for me to kiss her again. I wanted to do that—and a lot more.
    She twisted in my arms, and I found her mouth waiting for mine. We kissed for a few minutes, my heart pounding harder every time she broke contact and remade it. I ducked my head, searching for the soft skin on her neck.
    She tilted her head back, a soft rush of air escaping her mouth. My name immediately followed, and I’d never heard her say “Adam,” with such love.
    The skin along her lower back felt like liquid fire, as did her breath as it cascaded across my forehead. I didn’t dare stop to ask her if she’d like to go into her bedroom, where we’d have much more room to explore each other. For now, the couch would have to do.
    I brought my mouth to hers again, and then I touched my nose to hers. “Tornadoes, Gabby.” My breath came unevenly; my chest rose and fell pressed tight against