Epilogue

They only kiss. But their kisses are full of passion, longing, desire. They are so hesitant, but they want it so badly. They feel it is wrong, but it is also right. He moves his kisses to her neck, buries his nose in her hair. She smells so good, he feels electrified. Her hands reach under his shirt, her fingertips gently brushing his skin, sending shivers up and down his body. Her hands are timid, nervous, not wandering far. Her palm is warm pressed against his chest, where she can feel his heart beating faster and faster. Their lips meet again, and their damp cheeks press against each other's.

"Hai-Lai," he whispers, breaking his lips free. His voice is barely audible. "Why are you crying?"

"You're crying too," she murmurs, her fingers wiping away his tears.

His voice remains low and quiet. "I have...feelings...for you."

She pecks his lips. "You know I do too."

He smiles, pressing his forehead against hers.

"It's not the right time," she says so quietly, he almost thinks he imagined it.

"No. No, probably not," he agrees, feeling a sadness deep in his heart.

"Will it ever be?"

"I hope so," he replies, gently pulling her face closer to his. "But I like this, right now."

"Me too."

Their lips meet again, and work endlessly into the night. Neither dares to push it further, but they fall asleep wrapped around each other, stealing kisses and whispering promises.

"Thank you again, Rodrigo," Hailey says as the cab pulls up to her apartment. "For everything."

"Hai-Lai, I told you. It was not a problem," Rodrigo waves a hand at her.

She sighs and pats her thighs. "Well, now I guess I'll be giving a lot of oboe lessons with all this free time before the Andrew Walsh tour," she says as she unbuckles herself and opens the door.

"You are still going, then, yes?"

"Rodrigo," she says with a smirk. "I'll be fine!" She gives him another reassuring smile and flings her purse over her shoulder. "Besides, the falcon has to fly, right?"

"What makes you think you are the falcon?" Rodrigo teases.

Hailey leans into the car and give him a lingering kiss. After she pulls away, she retorts, "And what makes you think I'm not?" She grabs her suitcase from the trunk and returns to the door of the car, still open. "Besides, I always thought of you as more of an eagle, anyway."

They smile at each other as she closes the door. Before heading into her apartment, she waves goodbye.

The taxi pulls away, and Rodrigo smiles. He is proud of her, and his worry starts to disappear. The taxi drops him off in front of Gloria's house, and as he is about the leave, the driver gets his attention.

"I think you dropped something, buddy," he says gruffly, nodding to the backseat.

A small, portable cassette player sits on the backseat, headphone cord wrapped around it. He begins to protest, but instead says nothing and takes it with him. It must belong to Hailey. As the taxi drives away, Rodrigo slips the headphones on, rewinds slightly, and presses play.

"An eagle in the city! You know, I can relate..." his voice crackles at him.

The mate tape. After all this time, she still has it. He laughs and goes to grab his bicycle.

Now is not the right time. But someday, it will be. He knows it.