My eyes widen in rage, but Dempsey sees me and immediately quells the situation. “I’ll text him and tell him to behave. You go inside and get cleaned up. Call me when you’re in bed, okay?”

“Okay,” I mumble before yawning from sheer exhaustion.

“We’re going to make this work, Maddie. If you’re all in, then I’m all in, too.”

I tilt my head to the side and consider his words. As much as I ache to touch him and hold him right now, there’s something so special about having him waiting for me in California.

For the first time in five weeks, I feel like I can finally exhale.

“I’ve always been all in with you.”

54. Dempsey

Chapter 54

Dempsey

She got home later than expected last night, then she had an eight o’clock class this morning. I had already scheduled a lunch meeting with an old friend from school, and I didn’t want to cancel on what sounded like a promising lead.

Now I’m sitting in a coffee shop near campus, next to a park called Strawberry Creek Park. Ironic, but serendipitous in a way.

I don’t know why the hell we agreed to meet up in public. We’ve been talking nonstop since she FaceTimed me from my brother’s phone two days ago. There’s no question about how this will go, but I still have the distinct urge to throw up as I wring my hands and wait for her to arrive.

She wants this. She knows I want this, too. I have exactly zero reasons to be as worked up as I am about seeing her right now.

But still.

I send my brother a text to pass the time. He replies with a picture of himself sitting in the living room, his workbook splayed open on his bare chest. I smirk at his ridiculous commitment to those workbooks. But before I can type out a smart-ass response, I sense her.

My head snaps up. Our eyes lock. And I swear to God, in that moment, I feel everything around me slot into place.

She’s glowing.

She’s ethereal.

Holy hell, does California look good on my girl.

This is where she’s supposed to be. It just took me a while to realize I’m supposed to be here, too.

She rushes to me as I rise up from the booth I’ve claimed and meet her halfway.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” she gushes as she throws her arms around my neck and pulls me tight against her.

I let myself savor this moment. The smell of her. The truth to how right she feels in my arms. How the fuck did I ever think I could live without her? Just hugging her centers my mind and helps me feel more like who I’m supposed to be.