A month after their last meeting, a text popped up from Nameless at 5pm: "Sorry it has been very hectic. Been on travel from Vegas to Texas. Just got in from Texas last night and drove up this morning. I'm in town for the next 2 days."
They decided that in a few hours when she got off work they would meet. She went to the bathroom and immediately assessed how she looked in the mirror. Better than expected, though her sunburn was still radiating heat. She took a painkiller and went about the rest of her day.
By the time they met up they were both starving and ended up at the steakhouse inside the hotel he was staying in. He commented that she looked tired, and she said she was just a bit wiped from the sun she got that weekend.
"You didn't have to come out tonight if you were tired" he said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Are you kidding? And skipping out on a night with you? Who knows when we'd have another chance between our two schedules. And I wanted to see you."
"Yeah, especially since they just de-funded my project here. Now I don't even have an excuse to come back occasionally, except maybe for fun."
Her heart sank. This really was potentially the last time that she would see him. "You don't have time for fun."
"I might, later on after my thesis is complete. I might get some more free time."
She was quiet, then said softly "This is a bummer. I'm really going to miss you."
He agreed. "I was really disappointed. There were so many factors that made it really sad, you being one. A big one actually."
She felt her cheeks get hot and thanked her new tan for hiding it from him. He did catch her smile, and didn't call her out on it. It was a really nice moment between them.
The steak was great but the service was lacking, and she pointed out later that he seemed like the tired one now. He agreed, and she asked if he just wanted to go back up to his room and call it a night. He answered "Yeah, but with you."
She followed him up to his room after dinner.
