Page 84 of Keeping London (Flawed Heart)

Subject: I love you.

Loïc,

I don’t understand what your email means.

We need to talk. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I want to help.

I know that we can get through anything—even this, as long as we’re together.

I will never give up on you or us. Please, talk to me. Call me, anytime.

I love you so very much.

Love,

London

I wait a minute after clickingsend. When he doesn’t respond right away, I close down the laptop. “All right, Paigey Poo, let’s go celebrate you.”

London

“What the heart knows and what it chooses to believe are two different things.”

—London Wright

I sprint out into the living room to find Paige sprawled on the couch, reading a magazine.

“Maggie just texted me!” I shriek, causing Paige to toss the magazine up with a yelp.

“Say it; don’t scream it. Jeez, London,” Paige says, holding a hand to her chest.

“Sorry.” I shake my head. “But she said that Loïc is back and that I should go over and see him.”

“Really?” Paige quickly sits up. “Well, go. What are you waiting for?”

“I don’t know!” I cry as I jump up and down, clapping my hands. “What should I wear? What should I say? Oh my gosh!”

“You look fine. Just go. Oh, but I’d at least brush your teeth. You know what they say.Actions speak louder than words.”

“Of course I’ll brush my teeth. I haven’t kissed him in months. Our first kiss is going to be minty fresh.” I practically skip into my room.

Within five minutes, I’m in my car, driving toward Loïc’s house in Ypsilanti. I can’t believe that I’m about to see him. He’s been gone almost exactly five months, but it feels like an eternity, especially the last two months. I haven’t heard from him since his cryptic two-worded email last week. So, maybe he meant that his tour was over, that he was coming home. I just don’t understand why he couldn’t call or write with more information.

But I’m not going to let myself go there. He’s here. He’s home, and I’m about to see him. That’s more than I could have hoped for. The rest, we’ll figure out.

I pull into his driveway, parking behind his truck. There’s another car in the drive that I don’t recognize. At first, I think that maybe Maggie got a different car and that she’s here, visiting, until I remember that she had to work tonight.

She must have been here earlier anyway.How else would she have known that Loïc was back?

It’s strange that Maggie no longer lives here, but I don’t blame her. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be for her to stay in her and Cooper’s home.

I exit my car, and the May sun warms my skin, wrapping me in a blanket of hope. I pull in a deep breath, inhalinglife—freshly cut grass, blossoming lilacs from a nearby bush, recent rain, and soil from the earth. I’m surrounded by new beginnings, and finally, after months of doubt and coldness, I know it’s going to be okay.

I’m about to see Loïc.

Jogging up the front porch steps, I’m suddenly overcome by a nervous energy.Why didn’t Loïc tell me that he was back?I push that thought away as I knock on the door.It doesn’t matter because I’m seconds away from seeing him, and then everything will be right again.

I wait for what seems like forever before knocking again.

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