“But of course. Kid’s awesome, I’m awesome, it was a done deal.”

Elli giggled as she rolled her eyes. He smiled, running his hand through her hair, putting it behind her ear.

“Tell me something else.”

“Have I ever told you when my birthday is?”

He thought it over for a moment, “No, that’s weird. When is it?” he said with a laugh, she smiled.

“In a month and a half, December 17.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah.”

“Well damn, good thing you told me, I’ll have to get you something special, take you out somewhere nice. Make sure you have that night off, hell, that day.”

Elli blushed as she shook her head.

“Don’t even bother with it. My birthday has not been a big deal since I was six. My dad is the only one that makes a big deal about my birthday, and my friends have a dinner for me.”

Shea shook his head, aggravated, “Well, it’s important to me, so just plan to be spoiled that day.”

“You don’t even know if you’ll be home.”

“Oh, I’ll be home.”

“You’re gonna miss a hockey game for me?”

She knew he was off, it was at the end of one of his breaks, and he had a home game two days after her birthday.

He smiled bashfully at her and then shook his head, which made her laugh. “But I promise we’ll do something if I do have a game.”

She rolled her eyes, and laughed.

“You don’t have a game. It’s at the end of your break.”

“Awesome, I was worried for a second there.”

She continued to laugh as he gathered her in his arms, so they were facing each other.

“Mine was in May.”

“I know, May 16th.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot, crazy stalker fan.”

She gave him the meanest look she could, but failed when she started giggling. He smiled, placing a sweet kiss against her mouth.

“What am I going to do without you for two weeks?”

A sad smile replaced her wide happy one, and she shrugged her shoulders.

“Probably the same thing I’m gonna be doing.”

“Which is?” he asked with a playful gleam to his eyes.

“Go crazy.”

Like always, Shea wasn’t packed to leave. Elli and Adler sat on his bed watching him run back and forth, throwing things in his bag and then disappearing into the closet. Elli shook her head as she took a deep breath, letting out a sad sigh as she picked up his wrinkled clothes and folded them, putting them back in his suitcase neatly. She needed something to keep her hands busy or she would pick her nails all to hell. They had laid in bed all morning, feeding each other breakfast and just being with each other. Both of them watching the clock as the morning progressed. Shea being Shea, waited 30 minutes before having to leave to take a shower and pack. He wasn’t even dressed as he ran through the condo like a chicken with his head cut off.

“Do you need help?” she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed with her legs open, holding his shirt between her legs.

“Um, no, baby. Thanks,” he said quickly as he went back into his closet. When he came out he was wearing one of his suits, and that’s when it really hit Elli that he was leaving. She took another deep breath in, and got up, leaving the room. Adler was on her heels and he followed her into the kitchen, where she got a bottle of water out of the fridge and started drinking it as leaned up against the counter. She glanced over at her phone that was lying beside the sink to see that it was blinking. She picked it up and there was a text from Harper.

So…this sucks. I don’t want him to leave.

Elli shook her head, and typed back quickly.

I don’t either, I feel like if I cry he’ll think I’m stupid.

Harper answered back quickly.

Elli, I’ve been crying all morning, I’m pretty sure Jakob thinks I’m crazy.

Aw. Elli just smiled, she was so happy for Harper, loved that she had finally found her someone that meant something. Elli’s phone beeped again and she looked down to see another text from Harper.

I told him, I love him.

What!

I know, but I do. He said he loved me too.

Oh my god, Harper, that’s awesome, babe.

I’m so scared.

Don’t be. He’s amazing.

He is, but what if I cheat on him?

Okay, that would shock a lot of people, but not Elli. She knew Harper would be nervous about that, but Elli would be there for her, like Harper had always been there for her.

Won’t happen.

You sure?

Damn sure.

Thanks Elli, I’ll see you soon?

Yeah, waiting on Shea to finish packing.

Elli laid her phone down just as Shea came into the kitchen, carrying his bags and laptop case. He laid everything on the couch and bent down, picking Adler up, hugging him close to his body. She was going to complain about Shea’s suit, but he wouldn’t listen anyways.

“You take care of your mom, okay, bud? See you soon.”

He kissed Adler’s head before putting him back on his feet, looking over at Elli.

“Ready baby?”

Elli nodded, and they left, packing Shea’s stuff in the back of his truck. Elli was nervous about driving it back from the airfield, but Shea assured her she would be okay. They rode in silence, Elli’s hand in Shea’s as he drove with their hands on his thigh. She was trying so hard not to cry but when they pulled up to the airfield and Elli saw the plane, her heart just broke. She knew she was being a baby, but it just sucked. She didn’t want him to leave. Shea took in a deep breath, kissing the back of her hand before jumping out and opening the back of the truck, pulling out his bags. Elli got out of the truck, and went to the back to help carry something. He gave her his laptop case, before shutting the back of the truck, and handing her his keys. She pocketed his keys as they walked up the walkway through the building to the strip that would take him to the plane.