“It has,” Julian agrees. “I’m looking forward to holding you for the next twenty-four hours and not letting you go. You’re going to be taking a piss while holding my hand.”
I burst out laughing just as my door opens. My face reddens as I look at the stewardess. I know she didn’t hear Julian but oof.
She smiles, unfazed by my outburst. “Right this way, Mr. Bakshi.”
“Hold on, Julian,” I say into the phone and slip it into the pocket of my hoodie. “Thank you. Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“Not at all. I’m sure it’s a relief to be on the ground again.”
It is. The bigger relief is going to be seeing my husband again, but I don’t share that. I only nod and follow her out.
I distinctly remember the cold breeze that greeted me between the airbridge and the door of the plane when I first landed in Chicago six months ago. The blast of thick, hot air that greets me today is as opposite as can be.
Once I’m walking through the air bridge, I pull my phone back up. “Julian?”
“Yes. You off the plane?”
“Yep. Heading into the terminal. Don’t forget, I have like an hour of standing in the line at customs.”
He sighs. “Ridiculous.”
I grin. It makes me feel good that he’s as anxious to see me as I am him.
We remain on the phone while I walk through the airport and while I wait in the customs line. I only end the call when I’m next to being called up.
It feels like I’m a newly freed caged animal as customs clears me to enter the US. I truly try not to run, but there’s no doubt inmy mind that my pace has at least doubled as I practically sprint toward baggage claim.
It’s crowded. There are so many damn people all the time! I scan the faces, my heart racing, as I head toward the carousel that should have my bags.
Then I see him. A giddy, almost hysterical laugh builds in my chest as I see he’s holding a sign with my name on it. Only this time, there are little hearts around my name in bright red. My smile is so big that it nearly splits my face.
He’s in gym pants and a hooded tank top. He freshly had his hair cut and braided again, this time in cornrows with the sides and back faded and tapered. I loved the way the small braids used to stick up like a halo glow around him but this new style gives me an undistracted view of his gorgeous face. And his smile is the sun.
His eyes meet mine, and for just a second, it feels like everyone around us vanishes. There are only the two of us here.
All pretense of patience falls away, and I run toward him, trying not to take anyone out with my carry-on. And then finally, I’m in his arms again. I grip him tightly, unable to convince myself to loosen my grip, no matter how hard I try. Thankfully, his arms are just as tight around me.
“I love you,” he whispers.
I’m far too choked up to answer. Instead, as if it were possible, my arms tighten further. Everything around us falls away. The people, the noise, the lights. Everything. There’s only us.
Until someone practically plows us over and we stumble as we catch ourselves. There’s a woman with a suitcase as big as she is, sprawled on the floor behind us. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she repeats as she tries to pull the suitcase up.
My eyes meet Julian’s for a second, and we help her get her suitcase upright. All the while, she continues to apologize. It’sprobably a good thing it’s on wheels; otherwise, I’m not sure she’d be able to move it on her own.
“I suppose that’s our sign to get moving,” Julian says. He links my hand in his and we head for the carousel.
It’s already in motion, and I spot my single suitcase right away. Since it’s moving away from us, we wait for it to make another revolution and pull it off the next time it’s near. Then we’re moving outside.
“I think you’re going to regret your clothing choices,” Julian says, smirking at me.
I glance down at my Chicago Breeze hoodie just as the automatic door opens and a wall of muggy air hits me. I shudder, instantly breaking out in a sweat. “Ew.”
He laughs. “I’ll fill the closet with Florida Manatees tees.”
“And hoodies,” I say. “I love the comfort of a hoodie.”
“And hoodies,” Julian agrees. “Thankfully, every building is equipped with central air, so hoodies are still worn frequently.”
