64
Amanda stretched, blinked up at the ceiling, and felt the weight of Ericka's arm lazily draped across her waist. Their legs were tangled under the blanket, her cheek tucked against Ericka's chest. Everything was soft. Quiet. Easy.
She didn't want to move. Not really. But she knew what she needed to say.
Ericka stirred beside her, humming sleepily. "You're thinking too loud," she mumbled.
Amanda smiled into her collarbone. "Am I?"
"Mmhmm." Ericka's fingers grazed the curve of Amanda's hip. "You only go that still when you're plotting something."
Amanda took a breath and lifted her head. "Okay, so... don't get all dramatic."
Ericka cracked one eye open. "You know that's not how I work."
Amanda gave her a look. "Ma'am. You once called a late lunch 'a critical emergency' because you wanted sushi."
Ericka grinned, unapologetic. "And I stand by it."
Amanda laughed, then sat up, hugging a pillow to her chest. "I'm gonna go home and check on my apartment"
Ericka blinked. "What?"
Amanda stood in the bedroom doorway, dressed in yesterday's jeans and a soft hoodie she'd stolen from Ericka weeks ago. Her duffel bag sat by the door, looking way too serious for how casual she was trying to play this.
Ericka, still in her robe, was leaning against the kitchen counter with a mug in hand, watching her.
"You're really doing this, huh?" she asked, voice low but not unkind.
Amanda offered a small smile. "I'm not moving to another country, Ericka."
"No," Ericka said, "you're going somewhere more dangerous — your own apartment after leaving a whole banana unattended for two weeks."
Amanda laughed, tension breaking just a little. "It's probably growing limbs by now."
"I'm sending backup if you don't text me in twenty minutes."
Amanda crossed the room slowly and leaned against the opposite side of the counter, fingers tapping lightly on the marble. "I just... need to check on things, you know? I've been here since before the surgery and..." She shrugged. "I miss my space a little."
Ericka nodded, sipping her coffee. She didn't look angry. She didn't even look surprised. Just... quietly bracing herself. "Are you planning on coming back?"
Amanda looked down at her hands. "I don't know. Maybe. I just— I need a day. Or two."
The silence that followed wasn't sharp. It was soft. Unfinished.
Ericka stepped closer, brushing a strand of Amanda's hair back behind her ear. "Okay," she said gently. "I get it."
Amanda tilted her head, searching her eyes. "You sure?"
"I mean, I hate it," Ericka said with a smirk. "But I get it."
Amanda smiled, grateful and aching all at once.
Ericka kissed her once, slow and warm and lingering like she wanted it to stay on Amanda's lips all day. When she pulled back, her hand stayed at the base of Amanda's neck, thumb brushing her collarbone. "Just... don't disappear, okay?"
"I'm not going far," Amanda whispered.
"I know. Doesn't mean I won't miss you the second you walk out that door."
Amanda hesitated, then gave her one last kiss on the cheek, lips lingering just a beat longer than necessary. She grabbed her bag, pulled her hood up, and headed toward the door.
Ericka watched her go, silent until Amanda's hand rested on the knob.
"Amanda."
She turned.
"You know where to find me," Ericka said, voice soft now.
Amanda gave her a look — eyes warm, heart caught somewhere between leaving and staying.
Then she nodded.
The door clicked shut behind her.
And Ericka stood there in her robe, coffee cooling in her hand, pretending the room didn't feel quieter than it had in weeks.