“Hey,” he said, voice rough from surprise or maybe relief.
We stood there in the doorway, the air between us thick and warm and electric. In that brief moment before words, I felt aflicker of hesitation, a question lingering in the charged air. Yet, as I looked at him, I knew I was already too deep to turn back.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I said softly. “It was too quiet.”
He nodded once. “Yeah. I know the feeling.”
“I thought space would help,” I admitted. “But all it did was make me realize how much I missed you both” My voice cracking between words.
“Harper’s asleep,” he said gently. “But she asked about you before bed. Said you’d come back.”
“She always believes in happy endings,” I whispered.
“Yeah,” he said, voice low.
He stepped closer, “You sure about this?” he asked quietly. “You don’t have to explain or promise anything. I just need to know you’re here because you wanna be.”
I swallowed hard, every wall I’d built starting to crumble. “I am.”
And then I said the words that had been sitting at the back of my throat since I left.
“I don’t know what comes next. I just know that being away from you felt wrong.”
His jaw flexed, and then he reached up, brushing a thumb across my cheek. “Then come inside, Darlin.”
I smiled faintly as he leaned forward to kiss me.
When we finally broke apart, my forehead rested against his chest, both of us breathing the same air.
“I wasn’t gone long,” I whispered.
“Long enough,” he murmured, his voice rough. “Next time, just take a walk. Don’t go too far.”
I smiled, feeling a comforting laugh bubble to the surface. “Deal.”
He took my hand, threading his fingers through mine, and led me inside.
The house felt different from my apartment. It was warmer, fuller. Everything looked exactly as I’d left it.
Logan’s boots were by the rug, my half-empty bottle of wine abandoned on the counter, and a book with one of her hair ties marking a page.
As we walked past Harper’s room, I peeked in. She was sprawled across her bed, her little dolphin tucked under her arm, her face peacefully caught in dreams.
I whispered, “Night, superstar,” and she stirred just enough to mumble, “You came back.”
“Yeah,” I whispered, tears burning behind my eyes. “I came back.” Before gently kissing her forehead,
Logan’s hand squeezed mine gently as we stood there watching her.
And this time, I didn’t feel like I was crossing a line I wasn’t supposed to.
I felt like I was stepping into the place I was always meant to be.
Home.
Chapter 44
Logan
