I somehow manage to make it to him without falling over or having my legs give out on me. Letting go of my suitcase and standing directly in front of him, we both watch each other, not saying anything, for a moment. I don’t know who moves first, but suddenly, my hands are cupping the back of his head and his are gripping my hips, our lips crashing together. His scent and his taste crowd all of me, and it’s comforting. I groan when his tongue slips into my mouth, licking mine.

I’ve fucking missed this.

After far longer than what’s socially acceptable in a public place, we pull apart. His eyes are glossy as he smirks at me. He opens his mouth to say something, but I place my fingers on his lips, stopping him. I have to get it all out now or I’ll chicken out.

Dragging in a deep breath, I count to three in my mind. “I love you,” I start, dropping my fingers as he snaps his mouth shut, eyes widening. “It’s always been you, Stone. Even when I didn’t want it to be. Even when it ripped my heart out and shredded my soul. Even when the thought physically pained me. It was always you. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to say it, but I needed you to know. After you left, I tried so hard to get over you. Forget how you made me feel. And for a while, I fooled myself into thinking it worked. But then when you came back into my life, it wholly rocked my world. Brought up all the shit I swore I buried. I promised myself I’d never fall in love with you or allow you to love me. But then, next thing I knew, it was the middle of the night, pouring down rain, and I’m lying in your arms, laughing about random shit, and I felt happy.

“Truly fucking happy for the first time in a long time. And I knew. I just fucking knew. Loving you was inevitable. Loving you is as easy as breathing. As natural as pumping blood into my heart. It was always meant to be you. It was always the end game. I’m so wildly, stupidly in love with you, Stone.”

Tears are cascading down both our cheeks, and the back of my throat aches, trying to hold it back. I don’t know how I managed to get all of that out without my voice breaking, but I did. My gaze stays locked on his wet eyes as he reaches out and wipes under my right eye with his thumb. I lean into his touch, eyes fluttering closed for a moment.