Good byes are always hard. They had to be out of the house by ten so there was no time for extended leave-takings. They packed and had coffee before various Ubers and taxies started arriving. The group was pretty happy that Bobby and Madison were planning on spending more time together, even Kitty seemed to have warmed up to the idea.

“Don’t be a dick to her,” she said as she hugged Bobby good-bye.

“That’s a low bar,” he chuckled, giving her a squeeze.

“I wish more men realized that’s all we’re looking for,” she laughed. “You’re not half-bad for a card-carrying member of the Military-Industrialist Complex.”

“Love you too, tovarsch,” he winked.

“I’m coming east in September,” Derek said, bro-hugging Bobby. “Get together? Golf?”

“You know it! Bring the fiancé.”

“I haven’t said yes yet,” Derek laughed.

“Uh huh.”

“Bye babe,” Gina said, blinking back tears as she hugged Madison. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Day at a time, Beana,” Maddison said. “But thanks. We’ll see if it goes anyplace.”

“I can’t wait to see your series!!!” she squealed.

They both joined hands and squealed, “Ahhhhhhhh!” together and dissolved into laughter.

“Let’s not wait another ten years before we all get together!” Derek said to the group.

“Well, if someone were to get MARRIED we would have an excuse!” Gina said to him.

“Destination wedding!” Kitty said. “We’re counting on you Derek!”

“I haven’t said yes…oh fuck it, who am I kidding, of course you’re all invited!”

Soon it was just Bobby and Madison left. Bobby strapped his duffel to his bike as Madison closed and locked the garage, leaving the key in the lock box.

“So, follow me?” Bobby asked.

“You know it. I’m gonna watch your cute little ass the whole way to DC.”

They took I89 to I91 to I95 and made excellent time until they hit Connecticut. Once they cleared Newark, things opened up again most of the way to the DC Metro area. They got to Bobby’s townhouse just after dinnertime.

“Oh Bobby, this is cute! I like the décor, it’s you.”

“Thanks. I travel a bit so townhouse was the way to go.”

“I know, that’s what I did too.”

Bobby called out for Chinese and later they sat on the couch and caught up on email.

“OK, I’ve moved a few meetings, so operation Coast-to-Coast is a go,” Bobby said. “I’ve just got virtual meetings for the next three weeks after so…”

“So we’ll play it by ear from there.” Madison agreed.

“I think I’d like to play it by rear from here,” Bobby said, leering.

“Don’t do that again,” Madison said, shaking her head.

Bobby laughed. “Love me, love my puns.”

“Oh I love puns, Madison said. “I don’t know what the fuck that was, but it wasn’t a pun.”

“I’m wounded!” Bobby cried, clutching his chest.

“OK, you’re going to need to leave the acting to me.”

“Those three weeks are starting to look longer and longer, aren’t they?” Bobby asked.

“Just shut up and take me to bed,” Madison giggled.