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“They’re not there,” Diane said, her arms straining to carry their box. “The other two couldn’t afford the rent without him, so they chose another complex.” She nodded to the smaller, much less impressive apartments across the street. “They’re staying in one of those.”
Another change. She tightened her grip on her side of the box and headed inside. It would do no good to whine about it in the parking lot.
The light in the apartment was already on, and the place was booming with life. Music was on, streamers and balloons covered the doorway and floor.
“Did Aimee come early to surprise us?” Holly asked.
She turned to see Diane smiling. “Nope.”
“Did Cameron do this for you?”
They put the box on the couch, and Diane shook her head again. “Nope, again.”
Holly brushed away the sweat from her forehead with her arm. They’d only brought in two boxes, and she was already exhausted. “Well, what is it?” she finally asked as Diane maintained a goony smile.
“I did this.”
Holly froze as a familiar voice filled the entryway. She whipped around, and sure enough, Eric was right there. “But what are you—how are you...” Holly cried into her hand and couldn’t finish a single sentence.
“I’m guessing that means you missed me.”
Not waiting another second, she ran into his arms and held him close, her crying turned into weeping. “I don’t know why you’re here, but I don’t care.”
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her head and then to her scarred cheek. And when she lifted her chin, he pressed one, two, three, kisses to her lips.
“All right, that’s enough, you two,” Diane said sharply.
They all laughed, and Eric brought her over to the table since her legs had turned into useless jelly. “Okay, I do want to hear,” she said finally. “Did you get a week off at work?”
He shook his head. “Turns out, when mom makes decisions without dad’s approval, he gets smoking mad and threatens a lot of action.”
Holly opened her mouth and closed it again. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, really. My dad found out I wasn’t coming back for my last year of school, and he made it very clear to my mom that I would not only be coming back to Utah, but that I would be doing it with his approval.”
“All right Herbert,” Holly said, fist-punching the air. “But what about work? Are they upset you left?”
He shrugged. “To a degree, but our new management is great, and the few weeks I was able to stay behind was helpful enough to keep some stability. I think they’ll do just fine.”
Holly squeezed his side again and squealed. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
Diane stood and headed for the door. “That’s my cue to leave, folks. I’ve got my own kissy reunion waiting for me across the street.”
They waited a few seconds before the apartment door closed before saying anything. Holly couldn’t drink enough of Eric in.
“I guess you moved apartments.”
Eric nodded. “I figured it was time to stop mooching off my parents. I was able to get a few scholarships at the last minute and find a job on campus. But that means you’ll have to give up some of our time together.”
Holly gave a laugh. “If even. You can work all you want. Long hours if you need to. As long as I can stop by for lunch, for a talk, and for a kiss.”
“You got it.” Lifting her chin with one finger, he pressed another kiss to her lips. “How could I leave someone like you behind? You’re my everything, and you’ve proved that in every way.”
He pressed his lips to hers in a slow kiss Holly would remember for a long time.
Finally, her world was righted.
Epilogue
