Page 122 of Forgiving Fate

Landon’s dad walks right over to me and I finally understand where they all got the height from because this man is a giant.

“Hi. You must be Allie. I’m Conrad. It’s great to finally meet you,” he says, holding out his hand.

Returning the gesture, I shake his hand. “Thank you. Same to you.”

“I know you two have a lot to talk about, so I won’t keep you. Thank you, Allison.”

My brows furrow. “Thank you for what? I’m sorry.”

A smile spreads across his face and he looks over his shoulder briefly. “Thank you for saving him. You may not know it now, but you are the reason he is here and his mother and I will forever be grateful.”

Words fail me, and all I can do is nod and smile as he walks away.

Do not cry Allie. Do not cry. Not yet.

The plea is useless the moment my eyes lock with Landon’s. Just a few feet away, he stands there looking gorgeous in his tight jeans and dark flannel, his storm filled blues staring straight at me.

My feet are locked in place and I’m stuck.

He’s here. He is really here.

Months of letters and hoping that everything that I imagined in my mind is standing here right in front of me and I am frozen. I don’t know if I want to cry or run into his arms.

Luckily, he takes the decision away for me and eliminates the distance between us with a big smile on his face. “Hi Allie Girl. Did you miss me?”

My shoulders deflate and a laugh escapes me as I throw my arms around his neck, his arms instantly wrapping around me, holding me close.

My feet leave the ground as he stands to his full height and buries his face in my neck.

An overwhelming sense of peace overtakes me and the comfortable silence that I craved for so long returns.

“I missed you Storm.” My voice cracks, but I don’t care. This man became my other half and best friend in the darkestmoment of my life. Regardless of what the future holds, nothing will ever take that bond away. We both worked hard on ourselves for months to be two people that can standalone and now here we are back together and it feels right.

Despite all of that and the dire need to fall straight into him and never leave, I know we need to take this slowly. One day at a time. We are still healing and we need to see if we can be there for each other and not fall back into old habits.

And with that in mind, I tap his arm and he sets me back on my feet, but keeps me in his arms.

His dark blues shine with exhaustion, and his forehead falls to rest against mine. “Sorry. I wanted this moment to be just us. I didn’t want you to get lost in the sea of my family.”

“It’s okay,” I mutter.

Leaning back, he loops both his pinkies through mine and my stomach fills with butterflies. “I know we have a lot to discuss, but this isn’t the place for it. Would you want to come back with me to my place after this is all over and talk?”

My heart is screaming yes, but my brain is screaming no.

One step at a time. It will all be worth it in the end.

“I think it may be best if we meet up tomorrow. You are already exhausted and, like you said, we have a lot that needs to be discussed, so I think we both need to get a good night’s rest and get together tomorrow.”

His shoulders deflate and I can see the slight hint of disappointment but acknowledgement that I am right. “You’re right.”

Pulling him into a hug, I rest my head on his chest. “What did you just say?”

His chest moves as he chuckles and pinches my side. I try to jump back, but he doesn’t let me and pulls me into a hug. “Don’t push it, sweetheart.”

My arms lock around him and his head rests atop mine. “I missed you so much, Bluebird.”

“I missed you too, Storm.”

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