Page 88 of Long Story Short

I walk around my house to pass the time until she’s in my arms again, adjusting things that don’t need to be adjusted. I straighten things on the counter, check my phone again, even though I know she hasn’t texted because my phone hasn’t vibrated.

I’m being ridiculous.

I’ve still had a week of her—just not in person.

A week of calls. Of hearing her voice. Of knowing she’s coming back when she feels like her pop is fine.

Yet somehow, it hasn’t been enough. There’s a giddiness inside me I’ve never felt before.

My phone buzzes again, and I pick it up immediately. The speed at which I grab my phone should probably be alarming, but I don’t care. It’s just the effect she has on me.

JOSIE

Made it to the house.

That’s it.

That’s all I need.

I’m already moving before I even think about it, making my way quickly through my house and pulling the front door open.

And there she is, stepping out of her front door and giving me the warm smile I’ve missed far more than I should. The sun catches the blonde strands of her hair as her gaze meets mine.

My chest squeezes, and everything else drops away.

The distance, the waiting to see her again—it’s all over.

I take a step forward, not giving myself time to think twice about it as I close the space between us.

“You’re back,” I marvel as she meets me in the middle.

Her smile gets wider, and fuck, it’s so damn beautiful it makes my head spin. “You sound surprised.”

“Just excited to see you, is all,” I confirm.

She stops in front of me, and before thinking twice about it, I pull her body against mine.

I don’t kiss her yet, but I do revel in being able to touch her again. “I told you I was coming back,” she reminds me.

My gaze drops to her mouth for a moment before meeting her stare again. “I know.” She kept repeating how she was coming back to the Hamptons; she just wanted to make sure everything was okay with Pop before returning, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t something in the back of my mind that had me questioning if she might just opt to stay in Manhattan and finish her book there, by his side.

Luckily, apparently, he claims she was just overreacting and sent her back to the Hamptons, insisting he was fine, and she agreed everything with him was back to normal.

It’s quiet between us for a moment as we soak in seeing each other again.

It’s not awkward. The air around us is charged as a feeling of everything settling into place now that we’re with each other once again surrounds us.

“I missed you,” she whispers, her voice quiet but confident.

Even though the words are soft, it still hits me right in the chest. They hit hard. They’re exactly the words I wanted—needed—to hear.

“I missed you too,” I respond as I lift my hand and let my fingers drift along the bare skin of her arm before settling on her waist.

She leans into me, not hesitating in the slightest.

My other hand comes up to her jaw as I soak it in, feeling her skin underneath my fingertips again. I pause for a moment, just long enough to look at her, to make sure she’s actually here.

Her gaze moves to my mouth before locking her gaze with mine again.