the facetime call flickered to life and there renee was, wrapped up in a hotel blanket like a burrito with her head propped on one hand as she smiled at you through the screen.

“okay wait wait baby” you said, turning your camera around “look what i just built”

you angled the phone down to the floor of your temporary apartment where your brand new lego set was fully sprawled out. it was a miniature city with tiny cars, trees, and glowing little street lamps you had added from another set. there was also a spaceship in the corner, totally out of place but it made you giggle every time you saw it

renees tired face melted into a huge grin “oh my god youre so cute”

“no you dont get it” you said quickly, flipping the camera back to you for dramatic emphasis “this one? this one has hidden compartments. like look..” you flipped it back and tapped a building, lifting the roof piece off to reveal an entire secret backery inside

she gasped like you had just performed a magic trick “shut up. thats actually insane”

you lit up even more at her reaction “right? and look at this tiny cake. look at this. its got layers. i dont even know how they make stuff this small. like who decided that people needed lego croissants?!”

she started giggling with her eyes staying on the screen like she didnt want to miss a second of your little presentation. you didnt even notice how your voice got higher when you were excited or how you bounced a little on your knees as you explained every detail

“youre literally glowing right now” renee said with her voice warm with love “youre gonna make me cry”

you turned the camera back to yourself again “dont cry. youre the one in a hotel room alone”

“youre the one in atlanta without me” she shot back, stretching her legs under the covers with a playful whine “i miss you”

you pouted “i miss you more”

“youre actually wrong though”

“oh im wrong?”

“yes.” she said, smiling “because ive watched the same video of you doing that stupid lego victory dance like ten times today. so.”

you groaned and collapsed onto your pillow, laughing into the fabric “i told you not to save that!”

“you literally sent it to me!” she said while laughing again “i saved it for emotional support. sue me.”

there was a pause, one of those pauses that wasnt awkward but full and comfortable. your face was still half hidden in your pillow and she was just watching you like you were the only thing keeping her anchored tonight

“i love when you talk about stuff like that” she said after a beat “like when you forget to be cool and youre just you. it makes me feel like im there with you”

you looked at her as your smile slipped into something tender “you kinda are though”

she slowly exhaled “yeah. kinda.”