“You’ll still tell me all the big things, right?” I asked Glen.
“Just like you’ll tell me everything,” she replied with a raised eyebrow.
To this day I hadn’t told her any details about the night I’d spent with Luke. She’d tried prying those out of my sealed lips for weeks before giving up on it.
“That’s different!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, yes, I get it. I’ll let you know if they’re taking me to prison.”
“They won’t be taking you to prison,” I argued.
“We’ll see.” Glen pushed me towards the security gate again. “Go, Haylee, the love of your life is waiting.”
My stomach was tap-dancingthe entire flight as every minute took me further from the last furthest place I’d ever been from home, and closer to Luke. This entire trip depended on him coming to pick me up. I had no plans further than reaching the Denver airport. After that, I was at Luke’s mercy. Entirely dependent.
What if everything was different when I saw him again? Once we were stuck together at his farm, what if we no longer clicked and he’d get bothered with me. What if my imagination had run wild and portrayed him all wrong this entire time?
I didn’t sleep a wink, and the movie selection barely managed to keep me distracted. At one point, the stewardesses brought me food, and it tasted fine, but my stomach was all but ready to get rid of it anyway. I almost didn’t get to the onboard toilet fast enough; there was a line.
We’d talked almost every day, and still, I was nervous. Three months was a long time to be staying with someone. Oh my God, I’d be staying with Luke for three months. It would be much different than texting or even the regular video calls we were used to. I was overthinking again, and that wasn’t even the worst of it. What if he didn’t come to pick me up from the airport? What then?
We had talked about all of that, of course, but nine hours locked up in a seat wasn’t helping my overactive brain. By the time I landed, I had lived through several pretty horrible scenarios and was ready to face the reality. The reality where my carry-on bag was pulled aside for a drug test, since my jittery movements were suspicious. The reality where I almost didn’t get through passport control. The very same where my luggage never showed up on one of the rolling lines.
The baggage claim was emptying out by the time I managed to convince myself my suitcase didn’t matter enough to keep on waiting for it. I wobbled my way out without asking for help. My eyes roamed the much busier welcome area for Luke’s handsome face. Everything was blurring together, and I couldn’t make out any faces, though. When did I start crying?
Just keep walking.I followed the swarm. People hugged and laughed and received flowers, and my head swam from the entire display even as I was unable to make out any details by the time I heard my name called out.
“Haylee!”
I whipped my head toward the sound, searching the crowd until my eyes landed on him rushing toward me with a big smile on his face. Then, his arms crushed me to his chest, and everything within me calmed. I squeezed him back like my life depended on it.
“I missed you so much,” I whispered, burying my face in his chest. Sandalwood and something fresh engulfed my nostrils and enforced the sense of safety.
“I missed you, too,” Luke murmured against my ear. Then, he pulled back just enough to kiss me deeply, one of his hands cupping my wet cheek.
When he pulled back, his thumb wiped at the tears as his eyes searched my face. “Why are you crying?”
I sniffed, hating the weakness I was unable to hide. “It was a stressful trip, but I’m okay now.”
I hugged him again, just to make sure he was really there. Luke dropped his head to the crook of my neck, inhaling sharply. “You smell so good.”
“I most certainly don’t,” I snorted. “I’m in desperate need of a shower.”
“Pheromones, remember?” He kept sniffing until I squirmed in his embrace.
“Stop it!” I giggled and pushed him away playfully.
Luke wore a victorious grin, moving only far enough to look me in the eye. “Hello there, Red Cheeks.”
I bit my lip and blushed as if on demand. Luke’s thumb traced the line of my mouth, freeing my lip.
“Hi, Luca.”
“I love it when you say my name.” He kissed me again, softer this time.
My lips tingled and my breath hitched, and Luke’s tongue flicked in, tasting my mouth. A low hum vibrated through him. Flames ignited within me, and I forgot all the things I’d been so worried about. We melted together, our hearts beating as one, both frantic and needy.
I clung to Luke like he was the very oxygen I needed to survive, and he kissed me like we weren’t still standing in the middle of a crowded airport. But we were—we certainly were, and a loud clearing of a throat brought the general noise right back into the forefront of my mind.
