“Yeah, but I could have just said I was fine. I should have said I’d be fine no matter what. I shouldn’t have promised I’d make it there in time.”

She paused, checking the cameras. “No, probably not.”

“I’m sorry.”

She reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze. “It’s okay, Lennon. I admire your sense of self-preservation, honestly. You’re damn good at getting what you want.”

“Thank you?”

“It was meant to be a compliment.”

He leaned one shoulder against the wall, watching the screen with cameras three and four. “Do you think we could find a way to communicate, once I’m out there?”

“I hope so.” She edged closer to him. “I’ll try, okay? I don’t know what things are going to be like in the south after all this, but since Lopez is gone…” A lump formed in her throat. She hadn’t fully processed that. She couldn’t picture the south without Lopez.

“I just don’t want today to be the last time I talk to you,” Lennon said quietly.

She smiled. “Hopefully it won’t be. But I can’t make any promises.”

“I know.” He looked from the screen to her, and their eyes met. There was an intensity to his gaze that made her stomach flip. She wanted to tell him that she was more upset than she was letting on about the (strong) possibility that she’d never see him again once he disappeared through that gate. She wanted to tell him that she’d been working out reasons he should stay, and just didn’t have the courage to say them.

His hand brushed against hers, and she caught it and laced their fingers together. He took a step closer to her.

She should have been watching the cameras. Or listening for footsteps. Instead, all she could focus on was the little lift on either side of his lips.

It was too hard to resist touching him. She let go of his hand and brushed her fingers across his jaw, lightly tracing the hint of stubble there. He took in a sharp breath, like he didn’t mind.

She felt his hand on her waist. Her eyes went back to his lips. She couldn’t help it.

His palms pressed to her back, warm and strong, as he pulled her closer to him. He leaned toward her, until their foreheads were almost touching.

“I can make a promise,” he said softly.

“What’s that?”

“I promise that I’m going to think about you every day after I get out of here.”

She still had her fingers on his jaw, and he caught her hand in his, tucking it into his chest. It took a moment for her to speak, and when she did, the words shook, just slightly. “I’ll think about you every day too.”

His forehead brushed against hers as he held her a little tighter. “What do you do on dates here? What would we have done, if I’d had the chance to ask you out?”

She laughed softly. “I don’t think I’ve ever been out on an official date. We all already know each other here, so we just…hang out.”