One night was all it took: Season 3 "One second was all it took"

Fly Way

I turn into the airport and pull up to the surprisingly empty front area. I slowly came to a stop and slid my seatbelt off. "Girl, I want a giant hug before you walk into that airport. I mean it! I am going to miss the hell out of you. We all are. And you better come visit from time to time or else I will come to find you and I mean it! I didn't even feel lost when Dad left."

Her eyes grew wide. She is wiping her hand across her head. "I still can't believe he's alive. When you told me that story last night! I was in denial. I did not want to believe you in the beginning. That is simply crazy what he did and how he went about it! And I still wonder if he only found you just because he was in desperate need of a place or money."

"Yeah!" I close my eyes and grit my teeth. Thinking back on my dad and how quickly he wanted to leave. I wanted him gone and I knew I did. But he was just as quick to get out. "He did leave quickly." I am wrapping my arms around her. "This is going to suck. Your leaving is going to sting this time. I am truly hoping to see you sooner than I think I will be. You were my everything when I had nothing. I mean...I love you like my baby sister!"

"I know!" She cries as she squeezes me tighter. I can feel the air leaving my lungs. Natalia steps out of the car and walks over to us. Hannah looks at her. "I'll be here for the wedding. And Lacey! You have one hell of a woman that will be here for you no matter what. I knew that night she pulled you into the house, which was the night I knew you two had something more than you have ever had in your life."

Natalia smiles and slides her arms around Hannah. "I promise your big sister is in the best hands. And let us be honest...I think we both know I am an ace one in good hands. Lacey has been taking care of herself." I turn my head and look toward the airport. It is weird having two people in a matter of weeks leaving me through this airport.

Natalia pulls away. I watch as she wipes a small tear from her eye. "We will miss you. And Lacey is right. We want you home for the holidays and if you cannot come home, let us know. You understand money is not an issue for us, and we will be right where you are at. We promise!"

Hannah glances toward the airport entrance. She turned her attention back to me. I watch as the tears stream down her face and her fingers cannot wipe them away fast enough. "This is bullshit..." She pauses and takes a deep breath. "But a good kind of bullshit!" She is fighting her tears but begins to chuckle. She turns around and slowly begins walking toward the entrance.

My hand is still holding her arm and I am slowly walking with her. Natalia reaches for me. I can feel tears streaming down my face. My chest burns knowing that I will still be able to see her, but this is it. She has not been on vacation for a year. She is moving to Los Angeles. She is leaving for good. My shoulders are tense, and my hand slowly slides off her arm.

"I love you!" She cries. She is walking backward into the airport. She does not want to look away and it stings even more watching her face disappear through the doors. I do not blame her. I have missed her for months and now this.

I take a deep breath and wipe the tears from my face. I shake my head and turn to Natalia. "Awe! Babe!" She speaks. She wraps her hand around the back of my head and pulls me into her chest. She is lightly caressing my hair. "Just breathe. I promise we will see her more than you think we will." She is rubbing her other hand against my back. I feel comfortable standing by her side. But I also feel uneasy because I do not want to rely on anyone. Even my fiancé does not get the right to make me feel like I have something to fall back on. I always need to be on my own two feet. Even after marriage, I will still want to be in control of my life.

I stare back toward the entrance, knowing I will see her again and that I need to fight this feeling. The empty and sick feeling inside of me. It sounds weird or dumb but losing her this way, in a way that I never imagined, sucks. She and I truly have been close friends for the longest time.

I look over to Natalia already walking toward the car. "Let us go get some lunch. My treat babies!" She slides into the driver's seat and closes the door. I am staring at the car without a care in the world. I watch as she rolls down the window. "Babe?" She leans her head out of the window with a concerned expression drawn on her face. "Can we go?"

I sigh a deep breath. "I mean...I was having a moment and you just walked away from it. But sure. Let us go eat with my eyes looking like two tomatoes." I can feel the sarcasm pouring out of me like a water faucet with a broken knob. "And why did you just assume you were driving?"

"Okay! Settle down bitch!" She playfully yells. "Your eyes are welted, and tears are pouring from them...just like you admitted. I assumed you would not be able to drive. Get in the damn car and stop being stubborn. I know it is a tough moment with everything that has gone on over the past few days...weeks...months...but we must keep living and moving on. So, get in the damn car, and let us go." I hear the car start and I watch as she slides her seatbelt on.

I shake my head and scoff. I yank the door open and plop in like a ten-year-old. I know I am being stubborn and a pain in the ass, but I feel like I have the right now. I take a deep breath and shake my head again. I slide my hand on her shoulder and look directly into her eyes. "Okay. I need to apologize and thank you. You have been here for me. I am acting like a five-year-old wanting a new toy and you are taking care of me. I don't even know how this went from a cryfest to a quick childish game with me, but I promise I truly thank you and love you!"

"It's fine. You got over it quickly." She smirks and reaches for my seatbelt. "Put it on. I do not want you dying anytime soon. Let us get to lunch and then back to the bar."

"Why would we go back to the bar?" I ask. I slide my shoes off and press my feet against the dash. I have not done this since I was a child and something with her makes me feel comfortable being able to kick back and relax...even our arguments make me feel like I am worth the argument.

She is pulling out of the parking lot. Her eyes are attached to the road like a professional racecar driver. "Why would we go back to the bar?" She raises an eyebrow but keeps her eyes on the road. She is always cautious with her driving. "Because...wait, never mind. Let us go home and get out of these clothes. I have a few ideas."

"Nope! We can't!" I sigh while I read this dumb message from my phone.

She is sliding her hand down the steering wheel. She quickly glances at me. "What the hell do you mean you can't? Why are you looking at your phone like that?"

"Because." I exhale a deep breath and shake my head. "I am the owner of a bar...which just got closed down by the state due to the 'Claudia' incident." I held my phone up toward her. I know she is driving so I do not expect her to read it right now. But I still hold it up. "This email I just received. They are demanding for us to close until further notice and now I have no idea what the fuck I am going to do."