Ididn’t realize how little I’ve accumulated over the years, but it only took a few days to box up my entire apartment. When I arrived back in Rockdale ten days ago, the first few days were spent wallowing in bed, too pathetic to do anything else—similar to how I was when I first moved away from home.
The following Monday, I was back at work and put in my two weeks’ notice. My replacement at work has caught on quickly, thankfully, and my boss said if I wanted to return home early, I could. That showed me just how important I was to them. Even the friends I made there have all moved on with their lives and dodged my requests for one last dinner before I leave. The life I built in Rockdale has been completely unaffected by my disappearance. Whereas in Covewood, many are struggling without me.
I run my hands through my hair, tugging it into a messy bun, and walk over to the mirror that hangs in my living room. I stare at my reflection. The skin around my eyes has become sunken and dark from lack of sleep. My lips are pale and dry. I look like a mess.
Being here, in this almost empty apartment, has me feeling claustrophobic while loneliness settles quickly behind my ribcage. How did I think this was what was best for me for so many years? I think the one person who noticed was my Mamaw. It might have been why she started dropping hints here and there that she wanted me to return to Covewood. Maybe she hoped that Ryland and I would end up finding our way back to each other.
I pull my phone out of my back pocket and type out a text message to him.
I miss you. I can’t wait to come back home.
I catch the alert saying that he’s read my text, and the bubbles begin to do a little dance as he types out a reply.
Ryland
I can’t wait to kiss you.
Miles are between us, and somehow Ryland still knows how to make me blush. Heat creeps up the back of my neck with the image of us kissing. It’s washed away with the realization that I won’t be able to feel the warmth from his lips for four more days.
Just a few more days.
Ryland
I don’t think I can wait that long.
I start to reply back to him that we’ve waited ten years, what’s a few more days, when a knock on my front door echoes off the bare walls of my apartment. Maybe my so-called friends had a change of heart and want to tell me goodbye after all. I practically skip toward the door, more than ready for someone to distract me from the isolation of this tiny space.
As I swing open the door, my mouth falls open at the sightof Ryland and Annabelle smiling at me. I blink, not believing my eyes, before I’m convinced that this is not a dream. Annabelle squeals with delight as she jumps from her father’s arms into mine.
She wraps me into a tight embrace, bouncing up and down while shouting, “Surprise!”
My hands pat her back, and I stare at Ryland. The look in his eyes is slightly mischievous, with just enough seriousness to cause my heart to palpitate. Never would I have guessed that I would see Ryland here in Rockdale. Ten years ago, I prayed so hard that this would happen. That Ryland would find me and love me again.
Here he is, moving toward me, pushing inside of my apartment, and closing the door behind him with his eyes trained on my mouth. He’s really here. Even though we made plans for me to pack up my things and come home as soon as I could, that he would be waiting for me, instead he came to get me.
“We’re bringing you home with us.” Annabelle says sweetly as she removes herself from my arms and hops up and down. Her face contorts and she squeezes her legs together. “But I have to potty first.” She rushes to find the bathroom, leaving Ryland and I sharing a laugh.
Once we hear the door shut, Ryland’s lips crash onto mine. His callused hands slide up my neck and grip my hair. He pulls me closer to him to deepen our kiss, and suddenly the room falls away. I become lost within his embrace, and I can’t get him close enough to me. I kiss him desperately, the years of missing him catching up to me and pouring out in the form of deep, hungry kisses that leave us panting as we pull away.
But instead of keeping the distance between us, Ryland kisses me again with the same passion as before, his hands clinging to the sides of my face, like he’s out of air, and I’m helping to preserve his life. This kiss tells me he has missed me as much as I have missed him.
I let out a soft, involuntary sigh, and his hands move downmy shoulders to land on my hips, giving them a squeeze. He pulls back, just enough to where our noses touch, and our breath hits each other. His eyes search mine, emotions swirling within his honey irises, mirroring my own.
“I told you I couldn’t wait,” he says, his voice gruff.
I laugh, enjoying the bubble of happiness I feel in my chest. “I had no idea you meant it literally.” But I’m so glad that he did. My cheeks hurt from smiling so wide, and my lips are still warm from his kiss. I hop up and wrap my legs around him, hugging him with all four of my limbs.
“You were serious about missing me, huh?” He chuckles into my ear and grunts when I squeeze him tightly.
“I can’t believe you’re both here!” I admit before pushing back to get a better look at him.
“I couldn’t sleep last night. I know you need to collect your things here, but it’s been killing me letting you come back here alone. I rearranged my schedule and grabbed Annabelle, and we drove all the way here with every intention of bringing you home with us.”
The anticipation we’ve created the past month evaporates. Tears blur my vision as I’m flooded with relief. He’s not going anywhere. Not this time. And neither am I.
“My home is wherever you are.”
Epilogue
