“I can’t wait to get into the shower,” Lea said, walking through the sliding doors.

Emily followed her, nodding her head in agreement. “Same here.”

Her tank top stuck to her back and she hated that feeling. There had been a problem with the air conditioning in the Orlando Airport baggage claim hall, and they’d had to wait in the suffocating, humid heat.

“We made it out!” Lea said, raising her arms. “And it’s just as hot here.”

Grinning, Emily replied, “Let’s just find our car and get to the hotel.”

Lea pointed to a sign on their right. “Looks like we have to go that way.”

Emily squinted. She had a hard time reading the sign because of the sunlight coming into the garage. Luckily, Lea seemed to know where to go. Emily let her take the lead and wondered about her sunglasses instead.

Had she put them in her backpack? She hoped she had. It had still been dark when they had driven to the airport this morning, so she hadn’t had a reminder to pack them. But she would need them for the drive to the park and hotel.

“Got it!” Lea chirped, proudly pointing at a red car in one of the parking spots.

Emily caught up with her, looking at the small hybrid Full Circle Games had rented for them. “Cute and sensible,” she said.

Lea nodded, holding out her hand. “You have the keys?”

Emily placed her suitcase near the trunk of the car and fished the car keys out of her back pocket. She handed the device to Lea.

“I guess they’re not really keys anymore,” Lea commented as she pushed a button that made the car’s lights blink. Another push of a button and the trunk popped open.

“I guess not,” Emily said, lifting her suitcase.

“I don’t know why but this sure brings back memories,” Lea said, the damp skin of her shoulder brushing against Emily’s as they put their luggage in the trunk.

Emily smiled while she rummaged through her backpack. “Yeah, I know what you mean.” Her fingers probed for the leather case with her sunglasses. She finally found it and pulled it out, relieved.

She straightened and found Lea watching her intently. Emily’s heart still fluttered when their gazes caught like this.

“I guess it’s our first real trip together since the road trip,” Lea said, her eyes twinkling.

“I guess so,” Emily said, frowning. “That’s kind of sad, though.”

“Why?” Lea asked.

Emily shrugged. “It’s been a year. Why didn’t we make time to do this sooner?”

Lea pursed her lips as she thought. “I guess we were busy building a new life together.”

“Yeah,” Emily said, nodding, “You’re right.” She reached for Lea’s hand. “Let’s not wait this long again. I love going on trips with you.”

Lea’s fingers entwined with hers. “I love going on trips with you too.”

They beamed at each other, still standing by the open trunk.

“Ready to hit the road?” Emily asked after a few more seconds had passed.

“Hell yeah,” Lea said. “Okay if you drive?”

“Fine by me,” Emily responded, letting go of Lea’s hand to close the trunk.

“I want to answer a few emails from Claire before I go offline completely,” Lea explained, sounding a little guilt-stricken.

“That’s fine,” Emily said, opening the door and taking the driver’s seat. She put the car key in the cupholder and got out her sunglasses. The heat in the car wrapped itself around her like a suffocating blanket.

“I promise I’ll tell her after we get back from the trip,” Lea said after sitting down. “About us moving in together.”

Emily turned in her seat.