Rafael pulled up by the departures gate, parking for a minute even though he wasn't supposed to. Mara hesitated, her fingers curling around the handle, not ready to move.
"You'll miss your flight," Rafael teased gently, but his voice cracked just a little.
Mara glanced at him, her stomach twisting. "Okay, fine… I'm going."
But she lingered, stepping out only to turn back one last time. He was still watching her, that stupid half-smile on his face that made her heart ache.
She made it through check-in, pausing at the glass to look back, and there he was. Standing there, hands in his pockets, refusing to leave until she disappeared from sight.
Mara swallowed hard, blinking fast.
And only when she was gone, only when the last glimpse of her was out of reach, did Rafael turn and walk away.
Rafael let the hotel room door click shut behind him, the soft thud loud in the thick quiet.
The room felt different now.
