“You’re so reasonable, and smart, and pretty.” He pecks me between each declaration before sighing heavily, stepping back, and taking my hand. “Are we ready for this?”
“Nope,” I say, shaking my head. “Not in the least, but it’s time.”
The car ride to the airport is long and mostly silent, each lost to our own thoughts. Our hands are clasped on the center console, and if he feels anything like me, sadness has him tight in its grasp. I mean, I’m happy like you wouldn’t believe to be leaving with so much more than I arrived with, but separating after such a long period of solitude brings melancholy to say the least.
We’ve been back to the valley twice and took our phones on one of those occasions. We both made sure to call our loved ones—I did get an earful from my friends—and book our flights home. It wasn’t as hard to sync them as we first feared.
Since Xander’s flight is an hour after mine, he’s able to sit with me until boarding is called. “Do I have to let you go?”
I giggle, but I don’t truly feel the humor. “As much as I hate it, you do.” I lift my head from his shoulder and meet his eyes. “We both left a mess behind, and I don’t want it lingering. I want our future free and clear. It’s time to take out the trash.”
He tosses his beautiful head back in a boisterous laugh. “It absolutely is.” He brushes his hand down my hair and leans close, his blue eyes twinkling. “I love you, Ivy. Please don’t forget that.”
I brush his cheek. “It’s not like we won’t be speaking. I expect you to FaceTime me as soon as you land.”
He brushes his lips across mine. “Done.”
The overhead voice calls my flight for the second time, and I sigh. “I better go.”
“I won’t say goodbye,” he says, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. “So I’ll settle for see you soon.”
“Soon can’t come fast enough.” I grab him in a tight hug before wrenching myself away and hurrying toward the gate.
I don’t look back, because I don’t need to. I’ll see him on my phone later today and probably every day after until I can hold him again. He’s not going back to porn or loveless Tessa. Like me, he’s going to pick up the pieces he left scattered behind.
So our life can be free from the clutter.
THE END