Theplane touched down atDenverInternationaland it hit her that she had been so wrapped up in thoughts ofParkerthat she hadn’t even thought about where she was long enough to be apprehensive about the takeoff or landing.
Shewiped the last few tears from her cheeks, removed her headphones, wrapped them up, and placed them into the side pocket of her bag.
“Areyou okay?”
Kellilooked at the person in the aisle seat for the first time—a man in his thirties who looked very uncomfortable asking, yet also very concerned—and she nodded.Althoughshe could still feel his concerned gaze on her, he thankfully didn’t ask any more questions.
Asshe got off the plane, walked down to baggage claim, got her suitcase, got on the shuttle to the car lot, then got in her car and drove home on snow-lined streets, she thought about the guys she had dated before.Shehad felt a connection with a few of them.Shehad withJames, too, actually, although that connection came very slowly.
Shehad never felt it as strongly, though, as she had withParkerduring their week that felt like two months.Maybeit had been longer than that.Maybeshe had felt it from the other side of the second floor of the marketing building atZentCubeever since he started working there just over two and a half years ago.Maybethat was why their pranks had continued over such a long period when they hardly saw each other through their normal work tasks.
Shejust hadn’t known how strong that connection would grow to be until they both boarded a plane headed to the other side of the country.
Whenshe finally pulled into the parking lot in front of her apartment, right next to a monstrous pile of snow left by the snow plow, she grabbed her suitcases out of her car and headed up to her place.Assoon as she opened the door, two warring emotions hit her.Comfortand relief at finally being home again after a long vacation, and a sudden empty loneliness, like a home after everything is packed up in a moving truck.
Normally, she wouldn’t do anything before unpacking her suitcase and getting everything perfectly in its spot.Buttoday, she just left them next to the front door, trudged to her bedroom, climbed into bed, and pulled the covers over her head.
Twenty
Parker
Parkermissedthe announcement of the winner at the closing ceremony.
Hemissed saying goodbye toGraham,Tessa, babyHope, and the eight otherZentCubeEmployeeswho were flying home.
Hemissed lunch.
HemissedKelli.
Itwas late afternoon before he finally managed to drag himself out of his room and down to the beach.Notto run—he didn’t have the energy to do that.Instead, he just walked along the same section of beach that he andKellihad walked so long ago.Althoughit hadn’t actually been that long ago.Somehow, it already felt like she had been a part of his life always.Hewas so grateful thatStephaniehad broken off their engagement or he would’ve never gotten this second chance withKelli.
Hejust wished he hadn’t blown that chance.
Heshould’ve been working on the list thatStephaniehad given him from the moment she’d put it in his hands.Rightat the very top of her list had beenNotputting me as the #1 thing in your life.Hehadn’t understood at the time why she had that on the list at all because he thought hehadbeen putting her first.
Butnow he got it.Nowthat he realized he did the same thing toKelli.Ifshe had been the number one thing in his life, then his issues about her dad wouldn’t have taken the driver’s seat.Hewould’ve done everything possible to keep her radiating that happiness that had seemed too big to contain when she’d first come into his room to tell him about her dad.
Inlooking back with the benefit—or the curse—of hindsight, he could see so very clearly how much damage he had inflicted when he’d said the things he had.
Onthe woman he loved.
Hecouldn’t walk any further, so he just sat on a nearby bench, staring out at the ocean as wave after wave came onto the shore.Theentire sky was filled with gray clouds that seemed to pull the color from the ocean, and the cool breeze bit into his skin.
Hethought back to the carriage ride and how it felt to have her snuggled up into him, her head on his shoulder, her breath on his neck, his arms wrapped around her.Hethought about sitting next to her on the bench in the center ofTheRoyalPalm’sgrounds in the middle of the night, the two of them huddled together for warmth, spending hours sharing their hopes, their fears, their pasts, and their dreams.
Hewould give anything to have her sitting next to him on this bench right now.
Orto see the way she quirked one eyebrow when she was amused or pulled on the corner of her bottom lip with her teeth when she was concentrating.Orto watch the way she led with her heart on every decision.Theway she looked out for others.Theway she let herself feel everything deeply, yet never dwelled on the shortcomings of others.Theway she immediately saw the best in others, whether it was her first time meeting them or someone she had known her entire life.
Nomatter how many times she got knocked down, she stood back up.Evenat times when most people would’ve stayed down for a while.
Andthen his breathing hitched when he thought about the moment he’d looked across theChristmasVillageand had seen her holding babyHope.Hehad known his whole life that he wanted to be a dad and have kids, but he’d never actually been able to picture anyone he dated as being the future mother of his children until that moment.
Shewas soft and compassionate, organized and playful, trusting and non-judgmental.Shewas terrified of spiders and complete darkness, yet she showed incredible inner strength and resilience time and time again.Shewas someone not to be underestimated.Shewas an enigma that he wanted to spend his life figuring out.
Darrenhad said he thoughtParkerwas ready to open his heart again.Andthe surprising thing was,Darrenhad been right.Therewas one missing piece still, though.Parkerhadn’t already become the man who was worthy of her.
Twenty-One
