“I do know,” she said. “This has been great.”

“This?” He seemed sad, exasperated. “What’s ‘this’? Are you breaking up with me?”

“Brad—” She put her hand on his, looked into her lap. His fingers were cold under hers, warm from the travel mug of coffee.

“Look, don’t say anything more. Just think about us. Call me when you get to Syracuse—don’t just keep driving. You need a break for a night. Let me know you got there safe.”

“OK, OK.”

“I hate to think of you driving that far by yourself.”

“I’ve been all over the world by myself.” What did he think, that she needed a man? Was this patriarchal BS or—

As if reading her mind, he said, “I know you’re going to be fine but it’s also OK for me to be concerned.”

“I don’t need your concern.”

“Goddamn it, Poppy. Can’t you see I love you?”

There it was: love. She was afraid that was coming, afraid of commitment. But why? There was nothing scary about Brad. Everything about him was easy, good. Something about him snapped in place. “I’ve got to go.”

“I know you feel it, too. At least I hope you do.” He kissed her one more time, and she enjoyed it, and she wanted him. She had half a mind to … Love? Did he really just tell her he loved her? She was as terrified as she was thrilled. “Don’t forget about me.”

“I won’t.”

“I’ll be right here, you know. And I can come there, help you out. We’re good together.”

“We are. I’m just—”

“But you need to know that I’m not going to put pushpins on a map to keep track of you.”

“I never asked you to.”

“Jesus, Poppy. What are you so afraid of?”

What was she so afraid of? That was a question she asked herself as she made her way onto the freeway, her eyes blurry with tears.

She had twenty hours of driving ahead of her. She tried not to think about Brad, or the house, or the way Brad’s hair curled at the nape of his neck, or the way he’d stood there with his hands stuffed deep in his jacket pockets as he watched her drive away. She was afraid to look in her rearview mirror, fearing he might still be there, no matter how far away she drove from her old house. Soon it wouldn’t even be hers anymore. She and Ann had accepted Brad’s offer: a reasonable price, no Realtor fees, no inspection, no hassles. The closing would happen in about two months.

Take that, Ann.