“Then maybe focus that energy on finding her, not snapping at your only ally,” Topher said. “I’m on your side. But maybe this detour is a sign to slow down and figure out your next move.”
A detour. Right. As if I hadn’t already wasted enough time running in the wrong direction. I pinched the bridge of my nose and exhaled. “I’ll figure it out. I’ll find her.”
“Good luck,” Topher muttered, clearly skeptical. “You’re going to need it.”
I hung up and shoved my phone back into my pocket, my heart pounding. She wasn’t in New Orleans. What was I supposed to do now?
I glanced at the departure board, half-expecting some divine sign to tell me what to do next. Nothing. My eyes flicked to Gate C15, where a crowd of passengers was gathering.
And that’s when I saw her.
55
ANNA
Luke was standingat the gate opposite mine, the lavender hoodie I’d given him stretched over his broad shoulders. Even with the ridiculous hoodie and sunglasses, I recognized him instantly. Of course I did. He was the person I was running through this airport for.
As he looked at me, the chaos of the airport seemed to fade away. My breath caught.
I’d spent so long telling myself that I could never leave New Orleans, that I wasn’t ready, that love was for people who had their lives figured out. But here I was, in a crowded airport, heart pounding in my chest, walking toward the one person who made me want to face my fears.
He pulled off his sunglasses, and I finally saw his eyes—those amazing blue eyes.
I moved toward him, my feet walking me across the bustling concourse like they had a mind of their own. Okay, maybe I was running.
“Anna?” He stepped forward, his smile breaking slowly across his face.
“Luke.” I was breathless as I came to a stop in front of him. “What are you doing here?”
His gaze held mine, steady and unflinching. “I was on my way to New Orleans to tell you that you don’t have to leave. I’m coming to you. I’m done running. From everything. From myself. From you. What are you doing here?”
A laugh slipped out. “I was on my way to LA. To tell you that I don’t want fear to hold me back anymore.”
His smile widened, warm and full of something I hadn’t dared to hope for. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe again.
“I almost didn’t come,” I admitted. “I kept second-guessing myself. Telling myself that maybe I was too late.”
“But you did come,” he said, and those three words unraveled something I didn’t realize I’d been holding onto.
“I did,” I whispered. “Because I’m not afraid to leave New Orleans to be with you. Because home is wherever you are.”
His gaze was tender as he reached for my hand.
And just like that, the noise of the airport came rushing back, but it didn’t matter. We’d both shown up. At the exact same airport. At the exact same time.
56
LUKE
I’d flown halfwayacross the country to tell her how I felt, but now that she was standing right there, I couldn’t speak. All I could think was how much I’d missed her. Every moment apart had felt like a piece of me was missing.
She wasn’t on vacation in New York or North Carolina. She was on her way to see me.
My heart stuttered. “Home is wherever I am?”
She nodded, her eyes shining.
That gave me the courage to stop holding back. “Remember that day in the French Quarter at Napoleon House? You said you wanted one person to put you ahead of everyone else, the way your mom did. I want to be that person.” I smiled, my nerves unraveling a little at her expression—open, hopeful.
