Weston. Sweet Weston. His hair neatly trimmed, almost all the way to his scalp. My eyes practically bugged out of my head seeing him clean cut for the first time in his life. His eyes radiated all the emotions I felt thumping in my own chest. I didn’t hesitate to fly into his arms, wrapping one arm around his neck as he bent down to hold me, and stretching the other hand up to rub his smooth head. “Where did your hair go?” I squealed out, my words falling into blissful giggles.
He playfully ducked away, removing my hand from his head, his lips in an open mouth smile. “Turns out I got used to it. I love not having it hanging in my eyes.”
Still lingering in the astonishment of getting to hug Weston after so many nights of shedding tears of worry for him, I reached out to hug his neck again. This time, he didn't duck away, but lifted me up, and twirled me in a circle. We fell into a laughter spell reminiscent of our childhood giggles. When he nearly dropped me on my feet, I had happy tears in my eyes. “I'm sorry farming didn't work out but I'm so glad you are working at the palace again.”
His shoulders rose all the way up and fell as he emitted an audible sigh. “Me too.”
There was a pause as our eyes found each other’s. “I have one request,” I started slowly.
“I already know,” he rushed out, tipping his head toward me. “You’re upset I didn’t tell you first.”
“Yes!” My mouth dropped open, and my hand flew to my heart, as just the mere reference to his deployment made my heart twist. “Don’t do that to me again!”
“Never.” He was already shaking his head, physically shaming the past. “I understood how hard you would take it. I honestlyknew you were going to be in safe hands. King Aswell has the strongest army, and you didn't need me.”
“But you had to know, you’re more than just my security guy.” I reached out, touching his forearm gently. “You’re my best friend.”
“I know. And you are mine.” He covered my hand and squeezed it for a mere moment before dropping it. He tore his gaze from mine, scanning the room. “Before this reunion turns into a sappy movie, let’s do something fun.”
“Fun?” I sputtered out, laughter seeding my breath again. “What did you have in mind?”
His gaze focused on the window, beyond the front yard. “Let’s walk through the forest.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” As soon as the word was out, I pulled in a big yawn. “I’m about ready for my nap.”
Hours later, I sat on a hollow log, half grown over with moss. Of course, I sat on the half that wasn’t furry. Weston stretched out below me on his side in a pile of dead leaves, propping his head up with his hand. “Today was the best day,” I said through a wistful sigh, one of the first comments spoken between us in the last ten minutes. We’d spent the whole afternoon, and early evening filling each other in on all the things we missed, and I can’t believe it happened, but we’d finally run out of words for each other. “Are you glad to be home?”
“Definitely.” His eyes shifted to a narrow side trail we hardly ever used in the spring. It was the one that would get covered inprickly weeds that scratched my ankles. “I am very grateful to be home . . .”
Hearing hesitation in his tone, my brows dipped down. “But?”
“It’s not a ‘but’,” he rushed out, “It’s a we have company.”
“Company?” I checked behind me, following his gaze to the trail. Standing on the end of it was the person who made my heart melt. Reeves had his back leaned against a giant oak tree, arms crossed in front of him. He had on my favorite shirt, the blue one that matched his eyes. Both sleeves were rolled halfway up his forearm, revealing his all-year tan, and the end of his prosthetic. I found it funny how I no longer saw his prosthetic as a thing, it blended into the rest of his body. It was just who he was, and I loved him that way.
Just like I no longer saw us as two separate people from opposite worlds. I had argued with myself so much that one of the reasons we couldn’t be together was because we lived two very different lives. It didn’t take me long to see the fallacy in my prior thinking. Neither of us had to join the other person’s life. Instead, we morphed together, creating our own world in the best way. He brought a somberness, and I held the free spirit. Together we blended perfectly, balanced. With a few minor discrepancies.
Maybe not a few.
One sort-of-an-issue thing.
I hated the sunflowers he planted in my field. I get it, it was a sentimental thing he did when he was trying not to think about me, and yes, it was epically sweet. But that wasmyfield. I’d only ever known it to have wild grass with dandelions in the spring and way too much ragweed in the fall. I wasn’t allergic to anything, so it didn’t bother me. I loved the rolling prairie. So, other than the everyday bickerment we had about my field, we were a blissfully happy couple.
There was nobody on the planet who could make my heart pound the way it did just from the sight of him being near me. “How’d you find me?’
“Process of elimination.” He strolled over the soft dirt, stopping in front of the log, and dropped to sit next to me. He wrapped his arms all the way around me, pulling me into a cozy side hug. “If you two are done,” his gaze wafted to Weston before pacing back to me, “I have a surprise for you.”
“Really.” That piqued my interest, and I sat straight up, and jokingly waved to Weston. “You know I love you, right? But you need to go. I have a surprise.”
Weston’s lips spread into a wide grin, revealing his perfect row of teeth as he got up from the ground and brushed off his jeans. “I was waiting for it.”
“What do you mean?” I arched my chin, peering up at him and then back to Reeves. “Does Weston know about it?”
“Let’s just say.” He waved his hand like he was wagering a bet. “I may have asked him to keep you distracted.”
“For real?” Now, I was completely invested in whatever this surprise was, and I jumped to my feet. “Come on.” I took a step toward the narrow path Reeves had arrived on. “What are you waiting for. Lead me to your surprise.”
“Don’t be so pushy.” Reeves sprang up, and followed in tow, a full smile remaining on his face.
