“I don’t know.” He smooths my hair back from my face. Amazing how quickly I’ve gotten used to touching and being touched by Broderick like this. It feels so natural, it makes my heart ache.

“Do you…” I should leave it alone, but too much hurts right now. There’s nothing to stop me. “Will you miss her when she’s gone?”

For a long moment, I don’t think he’ll answer me. But he finally sighs. “Yeah. I’ll miss the little witch.”

This is so ridiculous. Why did we do this to ourselves, knowing this couldn’t last? I start to ask, but apparently there is a limit to my need to poke this thing until we’re all in agony. I want to kiss him, to provide the way for us to spend a few hours distracted and happy, but it feels dishonest considering what I’m revealing tomorrow.

Instead, I hug Broderick tighter and press my face to his shoulder. “Can we have a low-key night? Maybe co-opt the movie room and watch something mindless and distracting?”

He cups the back of my head. “Sure. Whatever you want.”

I want forever.

A child’s cry. I learned a long time ago that childish fantasies have no place in the real world. The real world is rough and horrible and all too cruel. Even in love. Maybe especially in love.

Monroe comes into the closet a few minutes later, her blond hair wrapped in a towel and a second one around her body. She eyes us. “What’s the verdict?”

“Movie night.”

Her slow smile has me reconsidering my choice to keep things tame. “Let’s watch DOA: Dead or Alive.”

Broderick releases me with a laugh. “You would want to watch that movie. It’s all tits and ass and half-naked women.”

“Exactly.” She drops the towel and pulls on a pair of Broderick’s gym shorts and a tank top that I’m nearly certain is mine. “It’s also about the power of lady friendship and also the dad is super supportive of his daughter’s sexuality. You can’t tell me that’s not progressive, especially for its time.”

I blink. “That movie is entirely fan service. Just like the video game.”

“It can be both. Goodness, you two, expand your horizons.” She pulls the towel off her head and gives her hair a shake. “Though I’m willing to take other suggestions if you have them.”

“After that argument? No way.” I find myself smiling, some of my stress abating. I can do this. I can focus on the here and now and leave the future to the future. If it means I have to squirrel away every little memory I can to hold against the moment when we inevitably fall apart, then that’s what I’ll do.