Rob's flight was in the morning, so Ethan took the day off work to send him to the airport. It was quiet in the car, as Rob was deep in thought and staring out the window, so Ethan turned up the Killers CD that was blasting on the stereo. He tried to make conversation, seeing as how it would be the last time he'd be seeing his friend in a long time, but that sad look was back in Rob's eyes again. It was weird, since Ethan had not mentioned Julia at all.
Once Rob checked in, they had a while before he was supposed to go in, so they went to a Starbucks. "Feeling excited?" Ethan asked, and Rob shrugged.
"In a way, I guess. I'm nervous. I mean, I left my job to go to this place," he said with a sigh. "Just as well, anyway. I hate working in IT. Glad I finally did it, been wanting to quit for so long."
"Oh come on, you'll be fine. You never know, you may want to stay at the ranch forever and never come back." Ethan was grinning.
"Yeah, sure. Besides, you can't live without me, Shaw, admit it. You'll wither and die." Rob chuckled as he took a sip of his latte.
Ethan didn't really want to admit how close to the truth that statement somehow was. "Well I'm sure I'll find someone else to push around. And finish all my beer for me."
"Nice." Rob looked down at his mug, and when he finally looked up at Ethan, his eyes had this tender look in them. "I'm going to miss this. Gonna miss you, y'know?"
"Oh, you'll be back before you know it. I sure will miss the peace and quiet." Ethan's smile softened. "I'll call and bug you all the time, you wait and see."
Rob nodded, a half-smile tugging up his lips. "Oh boy, I'm looking forward to the dirty looks from the staff already."
"As if that's not bad enough, I'll come visit too, push them around a bit."
"Ethan, Montana is a four hour drive!"
"So? I've driven further than that for pizza."
"Wow, I'm just as important as pizza? Stop man, I'm too touched." Laughing, Rob reached out to land a punch on Ethan's arm. Soon, they finished their coffee, then it was time for Rob to go in. It felt far too soon.
"Okay, so." Ethan nodded, sticking his hands in his pockets, trying not to get too emotional. "Have fun, okay? And don't let anyone push you around. None of that nice guy crap."
"Yessirree." Rob hiked up his bag on one shoulder, and that sad look was back in those sea-green eyes. "Take care, okay? Good luck with the whole business thing. Call me, anytime, if you need help. Even if it's 3am or something, I'm serious."
"Yeah, of course." Ethan knew that Rob meant it with all his heart.
"But if I can't hear the phone ringing over the barking of the trainer while I'm at the gym, then it's not my fault."
"Shut up, you ass." Then Ethan, unable to resist anymore, stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Rob in a crushing hug. Hugging Rob was always like being in the arms of a warm, delicious-smelling teddy bear.
It only took a moment for Rob to respond, and they held on for as long as they possibly could until the boarding call for Rob's flight was announced on the PA system. Ethan reluctantly let go of his friend, who, for some reason, seemed confused and didn't want to look Ethan in the eye.
"Call me the moment you get there, okay?" Ethan said softly, and Rob nodded.
"All the best with everything. The bookstore thing, Julia, work...everything." Rob was taking out his boarding pass, and the sight of it struck Ethan with a pang. This was it. Rob was really going. After seeing each other almost every day for the past four years, it felt weird to be apart for so long.
"See you soon, big guy."
"You're really coming to visit me all the way in Montana, huh?" Although he wasn't smiling, there was at least a glint of joy in Rob's endless eyes.
"I swear," Ethan said solemnly, placing his palm over his chest. "Hand on my heart."
Rob chuckled at the phrase they had come up with to make fun of the chick flicks that Julia liked to watch. "Okay then. I'll hold you to that."
They hugged fiercely, again, and then Rob had to go. Ethan watched him head inside the departure area, staying until he couldn't see Rob anymore. Then he released a breath he didn't even know he had been holding.
He didn't know why he already felt so lonely.