Morning came into the room through the blinds in strips of gold. Eva woke up first. She just lay there for a while watching the move across Kevins chest as he breathed in and out. Eva did not want to get up. If she got up the day would. That meant they would have to deal with Hong Kong and Hong Kong meant they would have to talk about what they discussed the night before which was still unfinished.
Kevin woke up a while later. His hand found Evas hand without him opening his eyes.
"You are thinking much " he said, his voice sounding tired from sleep. "I can hear you thinking."
Eva said "I am not thinking about anything."
Kevin said "You are lying." He opened one eye. "You get this crease right here " he said, touching Evas forehead. " Between your eyebrows. You have had it since four in the morning."
Eva laughed even though she did not want to. "You were watching me sleep?" she asked.
Kevin said "Someone had to make sure you did not sneak out and book a flight to Hong Kong."
Eva pushed Kevin. She was smiling now and some of the bad feelings from the night before started to go away. Eva sat up pulled the sheet around her shoulders and really looked at Kevin. She saw the scar near his collarbone from Tangier. She saw the gray hair coming in at his temple that he pretended was not there. She saw the way Kevin watched her like she might disappear if he blinked.
Eva said "I still have to go to Hong Kong."
Kevin said "I know you do."
Eva said "I am not asking for your permission to go to Hong Kong."
Kevin said "I know that too." He sat up next to Eva. "I stopped trying to hold you last night. I figured it out around three in the morning. You are not someone I can keep in a cage Eva. You never were. I just kept building the cage because it made me feel like I had some control over whether you lived or died."
Eva reached for Kevins hand. "And now what will you do?" she asked.
Kevin said "Now I am going to stand at the bottom of the building in Hong Kong. I am going to watch you climb it.. I am going to be really scared the whole time. I am not going to say a word because that is what loving you looks like now. I do not get to have you in a way where I'm not scared. I just get you, Eva."
Eva leaned her forehead against Kevins forehead. Neither of them said anything for a moment. Outside the city was already noisy with cars honking and delivery trucks driving by and someones radio playing a floors down.
Eva said quietly "When I am there forty stories high, no wire wind cutting into me you know what keeps me steady?"
Kevin asked "What is it that keeps you steady Eva?"
Eva said "Knowing there is someone down there who would rather watch me, scared and alive than safe and gone. That is not nothing, Kevin. That is everything."
Kevin kissed Evas forehead then her temple, finally her mouth slowly like he was trying to remember it.
Kevin said against Evas lips "Come back to me. That is all I ask now. Not that you stay with me. Just that you come back to me."
Eva said "I always come back to you Kevin."
Kevin said "Prove it. Every time you go away come back to me."
Eva said "Every time, Kevin. I will come back to you every time."
Eva got up. Started packing her bag. Kevin watched her fold her shirts into the bag with the care she used for everything, no wasted movement, her hands sure of themselves. Kevin thought about how scared he had been the night how close he had come to losing Eva because of his own fear instead of because of anything that might happen on a rooftop in Hong Kong. That scared him more than going to Hong Kong did.
Eva said "Kevin."
Kevin said "Yes?"
Eva said "Come with me to Hong Kong."
Kevin said "What?"
Eva said "Not to hold my hand. Not to stand guard. Just come with me to Hong Kong. Watch the city with me before I climb the building. Eat something from a street cart with me at two in the morning. Be there with me not as my protector. As Kevin."
A big smile spread across Kevins face the real smile since Eva had walked through the door with that piece of paper. "I have never been to Hong Kong " he said.
Eva said "Then it is settled. You will come with me to Hong Kong."
Eva zipped her bag shut. Kevin stood up crossed the room and pulled Eva into him one time not because he was scared this time but because he wanted to.
Kevin said into Evas hair "Forty stories. No wire."
Eva said "No wire.. I have you at the bottom. That is better than any wire Kevin. That is better, than any wire."