Chapter 7

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The feeling of Andrew tracing shapes on Maia's back pulled her out of her slumber. The memories of last night, the feelings...her heart glowed in her chest. Involuntarily smiling, she moved closer to Andrew, pressing her face into his chest and breathing in.

"Light sleeper?" His morning voice was thick and gravelly.

Maia nodded, already trying to fall back asleep. That is, until Andrew placed a firm, but gentle, hand the middle of her back. Maia's heart froze, her arms and legs went cold. She knew what time it was, what had to happen next.

"Maia..." he trailed off.

She wouldn't move.

"Honey, please. I have to get up."

Maia knew that. Knew this was the exact type of hurt she wanted to avoid. Knew he had a schedule to keep, and that his being late affected everybody else in his crew. Knew she didn't care. She couldn't – wouldn't loosen her grip on his shirt. Regret slammed into her, in how she avoided his text for a week, how she picked a fight, how she hadn't had more time with him.

He knew she wouldn't move as well. He reached deep within him, found every ounce of self-control he had, and sat up, helping Maia to a sitting position as well. Her eyes were bright, paler than normal, filled with sleep and emotion.

"I'm not going to ghost you, or whatever you're telling yourself is going to happen."

Maia pushed her lips together and turned her focus to the piece of lint on the sheets just to side of him.

"New Orleans is just a few weeks away, love, and we can talk whenever you want until then."

Doing her best to keep herself together, she nodded once, and placed her hand on top of Andrew's.

He smiled, taking her hand in his and tracing his thumb over her skin. They sat there for a few moments, both cross legged, quiet, and melancholic. March was too far away, too long to wait to see her again. He couldn't, not after last night. Just holding her all night, listening to her breathing against his chest, playing with her hair when she had a dream.

A notification on his phone played, and his heart sank. The uber he ordered her back to her apartment was 10 minutes away.

Maia noticed the shift in his demeanor and peered over his phone. Her shoulders slumped when she realized what it was. "10 minutes? That's it? For 2 months?"

"Come whenever you can, whenever you get any sort of time off. I'll get you to wherever you ask."

Maia laughed, trying to fight off the tears that were threatening to spill. "Wherever? I hope you have a great credit card."

They finally looked at each other, both laughing and smiling like they had all the time in the world. Reality set in again, however, and they remembered that they didn't.

"I should get dressed then," Maia somehow managed to pull herself away from him and off the bed. She motioned for him to cover her eyes as she slid the shorts off and pulled her jeans back on, a feeling of déjà vu rushing over her.

"You can keep the shirt," He muttered, just as she fingered the hem of the grey, long-sleeved shirt he'd given her the night before."

"I already stole your other shirt," She confessed, feeling a bit guilty.

Andrew shrugged. "It looks good on you. Besides, I have other clothes."

Maia dropped the hem of the shirt and looked around the room. Andrew's bags were packed and lined up neatly against the wall. She raised an eyebrow at him.

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