“Of him. Of you guys together. Of your happy ending!”
I’m laughing as I get to my car, toss my bag in the back, and slide behind the wheel.
This is it.
This is really happening.
I pull out my phone.
SLOANE: Can I come see you today?
The response is immediate.
JAX: Yes. Please. When?
SLOANE: I’m leaving now. I’ll be there in two hours.
JAX: You’re coming here? Now?
SLOANE: Is that okay? I know it’s Christmas Eve and you probably have plans …
JAX: I need to see you stat. Get here. Now. I don’t care what you look like. Just get here.
SLOANE: Okay. I’m on my way.
JAX: Drive safe. Text me when you’re close. Sloane?
SLOANE: Yeah?
JAX: I love you and can’t wait to see you.
My eyes sting with happy tears.
SLOANE: I can’t wait to see you either. I love you.
I set my phone in the holder, start the car, and pull onto the highway. The drive to Silver Valley is both the longest and shortest two hours of my life. The morning is clear and cold, the kind of perfect winter day that makes everything sparkle. The mountains in the distance are snow-capped and beautiful, and Christmas music plays softly from my speakers. I think about the last time I made this drive. Broken and running from Chett.Lost, scared, and not knowing where I was going. Now I know exactly where I’m going.
I’m going home.
My phone buzzes with texts as I drive, and I have the car read them to me.
RILEY: How’s it going? Have you gotten there yet? Don’t text and drive but also keep us updated.
MAGGIE: Ignore Riley. Drive safe. We love you.
RILEY: I’m not being impatient. I’m being invested in your happiness.
MAGGIE: You’re being annoying.
RILEY: Same thing.
I smile, shaking my head at them.
An hour into the drive, my phone buzzes again.
JAX: Where are you?
SLOANE: About an hour away.
