I sat forward, bracing my forearms on my thighs. “I’m glad it’s sorted, so I can tell you what a fucking idiot you are. You have something waiting, Chase. You have me. On this side, the other side, I’m on every one of your sides.”

His mouth hitched, the most familiar eyes on the planet meeting mine. “I know. I just got twisted up for a bit.”

“You’re my brother. No matter what, we stay family. No way out for either of us,” I told him. I needed him to hear me, let it sink in, and be permanently marked deep inside his chest instead of permanent marker on it. “I have no sides without you.”

Chase nodded, groaning in annoyance when he wiped his eyes. Then I knocked my bottle to the top of his, sending him forward to catch the foaming beer with his mouth for once.

Since then, we’ve celebrated his birthday, I’ve dragged him to exhibits and attractions, we gave a salute to Wanderer at the end of the beta program, and he’s tormented me about seeing Remi’s face.

And now they’re calling for us to board. Again.

My impatient gaze swings to Chase. His lips twitch, confirming he’s doing this to fuck with me.

“You’re the fucking worst,” I say.

But I smile as we throw back our last shots, bidding a na shledanou to Prague.

Until we meet again.

Catching the strap for my bag as I stand, I palm my phone. I told Remi to let me know once she’s out of classes, which should be soon since she finishes early on Fridays.

I told her I’m coming for her, and I am. Remi Saint will be mine—it feels like she always has been, and fuck knows, she’s been claiming parts of me since the beginning. And I have this crushing feeling the moment I see her, I’ll willingly hand over the rest.

The past two weeks have turned torturous where she’s concerned. She’s seemed sad less and less and reminded me every day how long until only land separates us instead of an ocean. I’ve played for her more and shown her lyrics in my notebook. She begs me to flip the page when I stop because the rest are about her. For her.

I send playlists when she demands them. She says she fell in love with music because of me. I think I figured out what love is because of her. Then there are all the promises of what we’ll do to each other once we’re finally in the same place. Soon. I’ll do every single dirty thing I’ve imagined to her soon.

But not soon enough.