Page 39 of Love In The Air

but always in our hearts.

“I’m doing it, Cam,” he whispered into the small stirring of wind, touching the chain around his neck with his medallion engraved with his brother’s name on it. “I head off on a worldwide tour next week and you’re coming with me. We’ll see the world, like we always planned.”

He was keeping his promise to his brother. He couldn’t save him, but he could make sure Cam was always with him. Always remembered. The moment was bittersweet as he stood there. Happiness at seeing his brother’s last wish come true, muted by the pain of loss. Multiple losses.

He shouldn’t have questioned Iz’s abilities the other night. He knew she was a skilled aerialist. She was damn good. But when Jen had proposed such a dangerous trick…he’d panicked. All he could think of was Iz getting hurt. He knew how much she pushed herself. She’d never say no, never give up, even if it meant…

His heart had frozen, fear clawing its way up his throat as his worst nightmare flashed before his eyes. The thought of losing another person he loved had been too much to take. So, he’d brashly spoken out. Gone all bossy as she claimed and made her look bad in front of their boss. Even if it wasn’t his intention, it still came across that way, and he was so damn sorry.

Watching Iz perfect the move these past two days had been terrifying. Every slip and miss, he’d wanted to run in and save her. But she didn’t need him to save her. She’d been right. He couldn’t save the people he loved. No matter how hard he tried. He hadn’t been able to save Cameron. No one had, not the doctors, not the medicine. It fucking sucked, but it was what it was.

“I need to learn to let it go, Cam,” he spoke to his brother’s grave, moisture gathering in his eyes. “I am so sorry I couldn’t help you and I’m going to try really hard not to be so…overprotective of the people in my life anymore. Thanks for being the best little brother a guy could ask for.”

Bending down, he placed a hand on the cold, hard granite, letting the guilt flow out of him. He’d always hold a bit with him, he knew that, but it was time to stop blaming himself for something completely out of his control.

He turned and started to head out of the cemetery when a figure a few feet away stopped him right in his tracks. His jaw dropped as he stared at the vision before him.

“Iz?” He blinked, but she didn’t disappear. “What are you doing here?”

She stood before him in a pale blue sundress that complimented her peach-colored hair, which hung in loose waves around her shoulders. A hesitant smile curled her lips as she moved toward him.

“Your, um, roommate Darnell said you’d be here. I didn’t want to interrupt…”

“You’re not. I was just…” He glanced back at his brother’s grave. “Cam always wanted to travel the world. We planned on doing it when he got out of high school, but then…I was just coming to tell him we’re doing it.”

Glancing back at her, he clutched his necklace. “One of the reasons I wanted to go on this tour was to fulfill that promise to my brother.”

“Oh, Chance.” Her eyes filled, but she blinked, and the moisture disappeared. “That’s wonderful. I know he’ll be with you in your heart every step of the way.”

He nodded. “Was there something you wanted?”

“Yes.” She took a deep breath and stepped closer. “I wanted to apologize for what I said the other night at rehearsal. I know I can be a bit…defensive when people question my abilities. I realize now you weren’t being malicious or trying to sabotage me. You were looking out for me.”

“I was scared,” he confessed. “But that was no excuse for me doubting you in front of Jen.”

He reached out and grasped her hands in his. “You’re an amazing aerialist, Iz. I know that and I have no doubts you can perfect any move given to you. I’m sorry if I made it seem like I was—”

“Hey,” she laughed, tugging on his hands and pulling him closer. “This is my apology. Stop trying to do it better than me.”

He grinned. “Oh, so you’re the best at apologies?”

“Yes,” she tilted her chin up. “And I’m also the best at groveling, so please, Chance O’Brien, accept my apology for acting like a scaredy-cat and lashing out at you instead of admitting the truth.”

His heart pounded as her words caused a flame of hope to rise within him. “The truth?”

Her gaze locked on his, emotions pouring out from their brown depths. Her hands trembled in his as her lips parted, a small breath escaping before she confessed.

“I love you, Chance.”

Weight fell from his shoulders. Fear and doubt blasted away by pure, unfettered joy. He’d been aching to hear those words from her ever since his confession. Terrified that the day would never come. That he was wrong. She didn’t care for him the way he cared for her.

“Okay.” He nodded. “You win. You’re the best at apologies.”

She smiled, bright and happy and so damn beautiful he couldn’t stop himself from swooping down and covering her lips with his own. She opened for him, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing close while he tasted the heaven that was Izadora Grant. He could feel every ounce of her love in the kiss, every fear banished, every hope burning bright. When she pulled away, he chuckled at the absurdity of what they’d just done. Started a new beginning in a place built for endings.

A small beeping sound filled the air and Iz’s eyes went wide.

“Oh shit! Chance, we’re going to be late for rehearsal.”

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