“JFK Airport,” I snap eagerly. “And step on it, I don't have any time to waste.”
“You got it,” he says, checking the mirror and hitting the gas so hard I jerk in my seat.
My head bounces off the headrest, and my body rocks back and forth as he weaves in and out of traffic. I hold on tight to the handle above the door. Normally I'd be screaming to get out if any driver decided to swerve around like a maniac, but this is what I asked for.
Through the bobs and weaves of the taxi, I order a plane ticket just to make sure I can get right to the gate. I don't want to be stopped by security and held back. I can't let him leave before he hears what I have to say.
The cab is still rolling to a stop as I throw the door open and run into the airport. I'm frantic but trying to hold it together so I don't raise any eyebrows and get thrown out. I navigate quickly through security and I’m sprinting toward the gate.
The flight I think he's on is set to depart in thirty minutes. Time is running out. I can't waste one second just standing around. I feel liberated just being here. I'm going after something I want even though I know my parents will condemn me for it.
And I don't care.
I don't care what they think. I don't care what they want. Mark's given me the ability to push past the social construct that is my life and realize that my happiness is what matters.
The gate comes into view, causing me to slow to a stop. My chest is heaving as I try to catch my breath, and my eyes are scanning every face. I don't see him, but I know he's here. I can feel him.
Finally, I spot him. And as if he senses me too, he looks in my direction and our eyes lock. I can't breathe. The look in his eyes is one of happiness and sadness, of excitement and anger.
Standing up straight, he takes long sweeping steps in my direction, his head tilting to one side as he reaches out and cups my elbow. “What's wrong? Are you okay?”
The second his fingers hit my skin, I want to melt into his arms. I can feel my muscles loosening, ready to give in and let him hold me up, let him carry me, giving me the strength I'm not made of.
“You're wrong,” I say, holding my eyes steady on his. “You're wrong for leaving like this. You're wrong for thinking this is what's best for me. It's not.” I take a step closer and tip my chin up. “Look, I was relieved that I'm not pregnant, but not for the reason you think.”
“I don't understand. If you were pregnant, your parents would reject you.”
“No, if I were pregnant my parents would try and force us to get married. I'm done being forced to do one more thing by them. I do want a baby one day. I do want to get married one day. But I want those choices to be mine, not theirs.”
“That's why I'm leaving. I'm causing too much trouble for you. It's too stressful and it's not fair to you. With me gone, your life will go back to normal.” His brows dip in hard, his face tensing up as if he's not just trying to convince me, but also trying to convince himself.
“I don't want normal. . .” Pausing, I take another step in, slipping my arms around his neck. “I want you. I want everything that makes me happy, and it starts with you.”
His hands wrap my hips, pulling me as close as he can. “But what about your parents?”
“It's not about them. Happiness isn't a gift from your parents they can hold over your head. It's not built from money and fancy things. Happiness is being able to smile, it's laughing, it's comfort. It's everything I feel with you. And one day, I want us to have a baby that's born completely out of love, so they can know what happiness truly feels like.”
“Love?” he asks, the corner of his lip curling to one side. “Are you saying you love me, Siobhan Andrews?”
“Uh, no. Well, I mean, uh,” I say, my words all bumbled and not making sense. “I don't mean yet, I just think. . . I just—”
“If you won't come out and say it, I will,” he says, pressing the pads of his fingers into my lower back, and bringing his lips close to mine. “I love you. I don't give a shit if we haven't known each other long, I know what I feel, and I know you feel it too. You said it, you can't take it back now.” Rubbing the tip of his nose against mine, he grins. “I love you.”
I can feel the tears fill my eyes. “I love you,” I say, pressing my lips against his and kissing him.
His hands move to my head, cupping the back of my skull. Digging his fingers in deep, he tugs at my roots, kissing me harder, deeper, as if we were long lost loves who just found each other all over again.
When I pull away, I'm warm all over. “So, now what?” I ask with a grin. “Where do we go from here?”
“A hotel. I can go home tomorrow, but I think we need one more night together before I do.”
“You already bought your ticket.”
“Yeah, but I can buy another one.”
“Well, I bought one too.” Holding out my ticket, I smile big. “I wanted to make sure I could see you. I didn't want to get stuck at security and miss my chance to tell you how I feel.”
“What are you saying? That you want to come home with me?”
Shrugging a shoulder, I arch a brow. “Why say goodbye at all when we can be happy right now?”
“What about all your stuff? What about your parents? What will you tell them?”
“I'm not worried about any of that. My parents will get over it. I'm an adult, they can't control me anymore. As for my stuff, my stuff can't make me smile this way, only you can.”
His eyes move between mine, bold and full. Crushing his mouth against mine, he kisses me with love. He kisses me with excitement for the future. He kisses me like I mean the world to him.
The plane starts to board, and Mark takes my hand, leading me to my new life.
To our new life.
I can't wait to see where it takes us.
Epilogue
Siobhan
She looks beautiful.
Mark squeezes my hand, his eyes on Melody as she walks down the aisle, her arm hooked in Ryder's. They both look so happy, but Ryder has an air of pride as he gives his sister away.
It's creating an emotional wave in the air. The other guests all have tears in their eyes. Even I'm getting teary eyed as I see how much she's glowing.
I lay my head on Mark's shoulder and he wraps his arm around my body, pulling me in and rubbing his hand up and down the outside of my arm.
Melody and her soon-to-be artist husband are both wearing huge smiles. I think I even see a tear in his eyes too. I'm actually looking forward to getting a chance to talk to him once they're back from their honeymoon and things settle down. I've got a few questions about the art scene out here.
This wedding is much better than the last. Not because I didn't enjoy Jenna's wedding and being a part of it, but because this time I have nothing holding me back, and I'm so much happier for it.
I finally found my slice of heaven. This small town has welcomed me with open arms, and I've been nothing but grateful for it. Mark and I have fallen into a perfect rhythm, and I love it.
This is where I belong. This is where I've always belonged.