I was taking one step forward, literally and figuratively, when the past and present all collided, and there she was. My future. She stood ten feet in front of me, blue eyes wide with nerves and a hesitant smile on her lips. As many times as I’d tried to picture it any other way, it only took seeing her again to know in my soul that she was it. I’d do anything to be the man she wanted and needed.
Walking toward her, I reminded myself to breathe. My memories hadn’t captured her accurately. She wasn’t just beautiful; she was fucking radiant. A majestic unicorn. The eighth wonder of the world, or my world anyway.
I stopped in front of her, heart beating like a drum in my chest. “Hi.”
“Hi.” She smiled, gave a small wave, and then interlocked her hands in front of her.
Someone patted me on the shoulder and told me great work as I just stared at her memorizing every detail and skipping straight past all the formalities to determine what her being here meant.
“This is amazing, Finn. Chance told me about it. It’s really great. I didn’t even know this group existed.”
I swallowed thickly. “It was founded just last year.”
She nodded and we stared at one another some more.
“I’m sorry. I can’t believe you’re here. I’d hug you, but I’m pretty dirty.”
“Yeah, I should have called. I wasn’t sure I was going to come. I sat in the parking lot for an hour changing my mind every time I decided one way or another.”
“I’m glad you did. It’s good to see you. Are you in town for the weekend?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I mean no. I got back last night. New York was an adventure, but California is my home.”
My hopes lifted, but only for a split second. Just because she’d moved back didn’t mean she’d changed her mind about me.
“Finn,” someone yelled, and I looked up to see Chuck motioning me over.
“I have to work the kid’s obstacle race.”
She held up both hands. “Oh, of course, you’re working. I just wanted to say hello and tell you that this is really cool. You’re going to make a difference in a lot of people’s lives.”
She looked like she was gonna flee and my stomach twisted into knots.
“Come with me.”
“To the obstacle course?”
“Sure. A few dozen kids kicking balls at us, could be fun. And also, I just don’t want you to leave. I’ve missed you so damn much. There’s so much I want to say to you.”
“Okay, yeah that could be fun.” Her answer was agreeable but contained none of the excitement I wanted.
“Actually, not just to the obstacle course. Come with me to dinner or coffee. Date me. Marry me.” I gave her a rueful smile. “I know that’s a lot to dump in your lap after not seeing you for three weeks, but I’m laying all my cards on the table. You own me, heart and soul. I want as much of you as you’ll give me. I always have, but before I didn’t understand how to be who you needed. I’m not saying I’m gonna get it right, but I’m saying it’ll be the most important item on my to-do list every single day. Nothing is more important to me than you.”
“Chance said you were doing the steps, but I didn’t want to believe it until now. Why? You could have any woman you want.”
“Then I choose you. A hundred times over.”
She stepped forward and pressed her body to mine. Her lips met mine slowly and tentatively. So many thoughts racing through my head at the same time. All ridiculous and all of it taking root somewhere deep and sprouting with hope and excitement.
“Yes,” she said finally after she’d stepped back, leaving me stunned.
One side of my mouth pulled up. “To which thing?”
“All of them.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I drove across the country trying to decide if I was being selfish by holding on to you.”
I started to speak, but she cut me off. “For three weeks and more states than I can count, I searched for a sign that we were meant to be together. I even hiked Angels Landing.” She smiled and shook her head. “About halfway up when I was delirious from adrenaline and nerves, I realized that maybe there are no signs. Because even if there’s someone out there who is better for you, they’d never love you the way I do. I’d do anything for you, and all of this here today, seeing you again, I know you feel the same. And that has to mean something.”
“I’m gonna get it wrong sometimes, but I swear I’ll never stop trying to get it right.”
“Me too. We’ll figure it out together one day at a time.”
“You really hiked Angels Landing?”
She nodded and I could see the honesty and pride in her eyes. “It was the scariest most amazing thing I’ve ever done.”
I pulled her tight against me.
“I love you, Finn. Wildly.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
I threaded my hands through her hair and tipped her head up so I could take her sweet mouth.
“I just have one question,” she said as my lips hovered over hers.
“Shoot.”
“Well, the thing is my old house is rented and finding a new place is such a pain. Chance offered me his guest room, but I think I’m going to be spending a lot of time in LA.”
“You need a place to stay, huh?”
“Temporarily, of course. Two weeks tops until I can find a place of my own.”
“I don’t know. See, there’s this cat that someone forced me to keep and she’s pretty particular about who I let stay with me.”
“I’ll win her over, don’t worry.”
“You’re a fan of hers but not of mine, if I remember correctly,” I said, smiling. I breathed her in and closed my eyes, savoring the moment in case I was delusional and was dreaming it all up. When I opened them, she was still there, and I squeezed her tighter.
She moved like she was gonna kiss me and I inched back, a teasing glint in my eye.
“Fine. I’m a fan,” she relented.
I waited.
“Okay, okay. Not just a fan, your number one fan.”
“Think you might have some competition.” A crowd had formed around us and she followed my gaze to see the group of teenagers hanging back, too polite or maybe scared to interrupt and ask for a photo or autograph.
“We’ll see about that.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. She pulled back far sooner than I wanted, but there were children present, so I held on to the promise I’d get to kiss her a lot more often. I planned to start as soon as we left here and stop – never.
“Do we have a deal?” she asked.
“No.”
“No?” A stunned look made her eyes wide and jaw drop.
“Two weeks isn’t going to work for me. I’m going to need more time.”
“How much?”
“Let’s start with forever.”
She nodded, more tears filling those beautiful blue eyes. “That sounds perfect.”
I picked her up and kissed her hard, screw the onlookers. I loved her so much, beyond reason, though the reasons were many.
The microphone crackled and Chuck gave the five-minute warning for the kid’s race. Adele and I finally pulled apart.