She moved forward, leaning across the gap between the bucket seats. Maddie met her halfway, and they hugged, awkwardly, before moving back a little, their foreheads pressed together, arms braced on the other’s knees. The tears that had threatened earlier were back, and she watched as they dripped off her face to fall on the dusty, carpeted floor.

“I have to go,” she finally whispered.

“I know.”

She had nothing more to say, nothing to make this any better, and the longer she stayed here, the harder it was to leave. She wanted to stay in this old car forever if it meant staying here with Maddie, but the idea was ridiculous. They both knew that. She made herself move away first, sitting back fully in her seat before flashing Maddie a quick, weak smile.

“Okay then. I’ll see you later this week or early next.”

Maddie’s eyes were red too, and she returned a similar, strained smile. “Okay. Have a safe trip.”

She got out of the car as fast as she could, a sob escaping her lips almost the second she closed the heavy door behind her. The ground out here was slick with melting snow and ice, and she had to blink through her tears again to see where she was walking, her progress far slower than her haste and heartbreak warranted. She wanted to run inside, hide in her room, and cry.

She heard the other car door open behind her and spun quickly, almost losing her footing. Maddie was there in seconds, steadying her, and they were clinging to each other moments later. She nestled into Maddie’s chest and sobbed into her jacket, her fingers twisted into the heavy wool fabric, and soon Maddie was rubbing her strong hands up and down her back, her voice soothing and quiet as she murmured reassurances.

“Let me help you to the door,” Maddie finally said.

She took Maddie’s arm, the two of them using each other as anchors to stay upright. The stairs into the hotel had been salted and cleared, and she felt steadier when she finally stood on one. She turned to Maddie, their eyes even with Maddie on the ground a step below.

“Look,” Maddie said, licking her lips. “We’ll see each other later this week, and then maybe—”

“No. Let’s not…I don’t want to get our hopes up. It’s really better this way—now instead of later. I think we both know that.”

“But it really sucks. I like you.”

“And I like you. More than I thought I could like anyone in such a short time. But we hardly know each other, and we live thousands of miles apart.”

“I could move to New York.”