I insist I take Aaron to the airport following the Con; if this will be goodbye, I want to see in his face how ‘goodbye’ our parting will be. I pull into the airport drop-off zone, narrowly avoiding a taxi swerving into the space in front.

“Aren’t you coming inside with me?” he asks.

I hesitate and have to admit the extortionate parking fees cross my mind. And the cliché of waving off a guy, in tears.

“Okay.”

We don’t speak on the walk from the car park to the terminal; the only sound the airplane engines firing as they taxi for take-off, or the ones approaching. I watch in fascination, almost tripping over Aaron’s feet.

“Thanks for driving me. You must be exhausted after today.”

“Kind of exhilarated.”

He takes my hand as we walk, and I instantly wish he hadn’t. “You look alive and happy. That’s good. See, you can do more in life.”

“I know. And I will.”

“Good.”

Because I’ve never been overseas, or interstate, I’ve only seen the check-in desks on the one occasion I helped Erin and Cole with bags when they visited Bali. That day, I had no desire to go with them. Today, I’m sure I would.

Aaron only has carry-on baggage and he checks in at a machine before persuading me to head to the airport cafe and sit with him before he needs to move to Departures, alone. Each moment makes his leaving harder, but also is one more with him.

He’s quiet, one hand over mine as he drinks from the cup in his other. “It’s three weeks since I’ve been in Sydney.”

“Do you miss being there?”

“It’s where I live.”

I look around at the milling passengers, unsurprised by his cryptic response. “I should take a holiday. Sell more pictures and enjoy the profits.”

“Where would you go?” I shrug but want to say Sydney. I don’t; I couldn’t cope with a shocked reaction and hasty back-pedal by Aaron. I’m a Champion of Awkwardness, but I don’t enjoy it.

“This isn’t over,” he says and tightens his hand over mine. “I promise. That’s if you don’t want this to be the end.”

My stomach lurches. “I don’t. I want to see you again.”

“Good.”

The stilted conversation smarts; I imagine he has few words left after pouring out his heart and soul in front of me yesterday.

“Until I see you again, we have a date with a dragon every evening.”

“Once we can fly,” I correct.

“Oh, we’ll fly okay.” He checks his phone and pulls a face. “And I have to now.”

Immediately I stand, awkward, knocking the small wooden chair to the floor. Cheeks flaring, I pick the chair up, aware I’m under scrutiny from people who heard the noise. Loud bangs at airports aren’t popular.

Aaron stands too and wraps his arms around me, and I place my head on his chest, arms around his waist. He soothes, and I grip him in return. Eyes closed, I savour our moment so I can summon it to mind when we’re apart.

In reality, this could be the end, because I don’t want to see him face to face again if this disintegrates once we’re apart.

He gently disentangles my arms and bends his head, lips approaching mine. I want this, but I don’t, the fear this might be the last kiss overriding. The moment his mouth touches, the fear leaves, as he gives me the softest kiss that somehow has a bigger effect than the rough, passionate Aaron. He pulls me close, hands in the small of my back, and we restrain from an all-out, not-in-front-of-the-kids clinch.

I don’t want him to take his arms or mouth away, because in each moment they remain there, the stronger the silent words pass: he will come back.

“I’ll see you soon,” he whispers and touches my nose.

I refuse to cry, I won’t be the girl who can’t hang on to her emotions, but I’m not fooling him. Besides, I think airports pump something through the air-conditioning to make people cry. That’s the reason for my leaking eyes. Seriously.

As Aaron walks away toward Security, he turns and pulls something from his pocket.

“If you want this, you have to come to Sydney, Evie.” With a dimpled, Aaron grin he shoves my favourite pink unicorn hat onto his head.

“I can’t go through there!” I call. “Throw the hat back!”

“Like I said, come and get it. See you soon.”

His tall figure disappears around the corner and I stand open-mouthed. Was that a weird invite to visit him?

A girl besides me with her friend laughs. “Funny guy you have there. He’s sweet.”

The other girl mutters something about how hot he is, and I laugh.

And complicated.