These are for you. He hands me the bouquet of wild daisies that I hadn’t noticed he had been holding. I bring them to my face, inhaling the honey scent, and smile. My favorites.
“Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
“You’re welcome.”
“How long are you here for?”
“I have to fly back tomorrow afternoon. I deploy in the evening.”
My eyes widen. “You flew all the way here for less than 24 hours?” Emotion clogs my throat. Even after all this time, and after everything that happened between us, he came all this way for me.
He strokes his gloved hand across my cheek, and I can’t help but melt into his touch all over again.
“Like I said, Tor, I’d do anything if it meant I got to see you. I’m just sorry it took me so long to pluck up the courage to do it.”
“Then we’d better make the most of it.”
It’s like no time has passed. The conversation is easy; I’ve laughed more in the past twelve hours than I have in the past five years. I don’t know why I feared seeing him again; it just feels so easy, so natural being around him. He’s shared what he can about his new role in the special forces and the deployments he’s been on. It’s obvious he’s been through a lot. We walked around London all night, stopping at random pubs that were open, food carts, and sat by the Thames as I shared things about my new life in London. When the 2am chill in the air hit, like the gentleman he is, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around me.
“I find it so weird they call these chips,” Noah says, holding up a fry from the portion we’re sharing.
I laugh as I take a bite of one. “I know, when I first got here, I ordered some chips thinking I was getting a bag of Lays, and they brought out a big bowl of fries. I was so confused, but I’m used to it now.”
“London looks good on you.” He gives my thigh a squeeze.
“Thanks. I love it here. It’s been nice having Harry here, but he belongs in New York, especially now he has Ali. I’m sorry you missed them. They left early. Ali flies home tomorrow, well, today now.”
“That’s okay. I saw them last week at the wedding. I thought something was going on with them. They are usually at each other’s throats, but they were too nice to each other.”
I laugh, “Harry is trying to play it off like they are just friends, but I think it’s love.”
“Good for him,” Noah says with sincerity in his voice.
“He deserves to be happy. He’s been through a lot.”
“So do you,” Noah says, covering his hand with mine. “Have you met anyone?” he asks with hesitation in his tone.
I shake my head. “No, you?”
“No, single as a Pringle.” I burst out laughing.
“Single as a Pringle?” I repeat.
He chuckles. “Yep, can you tell I spent the week hanging out with my nieces? Lexi asked if I had a girlfriend, and I said no, and she told me I was a single Pringle. Got to love seven-year-olds.”
“I still can’t believe Jack and Ria got married. How do you feel about it? Is it weird—your sister and your best friend?”
“No, not really. I think I always knew there was something there. I’m just happy they found their way to each other. They were always meant to be.”
I take another bite of my chip, needing to change the subject before my mind drifts to a place where the idea of Noah and I lives.
“You have two nieces now, right?” I ask, remembering Harry mentioned Ria had a second daughter before her marriage ended.
“Yeah, Elle, she’s a cutie. I’m sure it won’t be long before Jack and Ria have more.”
I nod in agreement, and I can’t help the pang of jealousy for the life I’ll never have. I made the decision when I moved here that marriage and kids weren’t on the cards for me. Sure, I’d like to meet someone, but the whole settling down thing, I just don’t think it’s for me anymore.
“I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about this if it’s too hard,” Noah says.
