Page 60 of A Me and You Thing
“This can’t be real, this can’t be real,” he mumbles over and over.
“It’s me. I’m home,” I whisper.
Next, he’s holding my shoulders and staring at my face again as though he simply can’t believe what he’s seeing. His eyes wander every inch of me, just as his fingers did earlier. A quick intake of breath tells me he just noticed the nasty scar on my forehead. One hand reaches up and delicately traces it.
“You lived?” His chest is rising and falling at a fast pace. He’s so pale, I have no idea how he’s still standing. Sheer will power, maybe.
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand.”
“My memories... after being thrown from the bus, they were gone. I was... nothing.” I hold back tears because I don’t want to break into an ugly cry.
“I...” He doesn’t know what to say. Neither do I.
The full explanation can wait until later. Right now, I just want to savor the moment.
He holds me close again and showers my face with soft kisses. “Quinn,” he whispers in a shaky voice. “I’ve missed you so much. I’ve wanted this, dreamed of this. Every day. Is this real?”
“I’m real.” I hug him even tighter so he can feel just how real this is.
“I love you so much, Quinn. So much. I’ve been lost without you. So lost.”
“I forgot you. I’m so sorry I forgot you. I don’t know how that happened.”
“Shh. It’s not your fault. I saw the accident sight. It’s a miracle you survived at all.”
I pull back and look at him with wide eyes. “You saw it?”
“Yes. I searched for you everywhere. I couldn’t accept that you were gone. I searched for days. I couldn’t find you.”
I bury my face in his chest and sob quietly. Happy and sad tears combined. I love that he didn’t give up on me easily. It’s exactly what I have come to expect from him. He never disappoints.
I’m not sure how long we stand on the porch simply holding each other. It doesn’t matter. I’m safe in his arms. I’m where I’m supposed to be again. I don’t want the moment to ever end. All of my efforts to get home to him were leading up to this sweet reunion. It’s all I wanted.
“Sawyer?”
I hear a woman’s voice from inside the house. I know that voice. I’d know it anywhere.
Sawyer turns, keeping one arm around me as if he’s scared to let go.
I smile through my tear smeared face at my best friend in the whole wide world.
Bree.
She’s here. In my house.
“Bree.”
Bree drops the pile of books she’s holding. They fall to the floor with a loud thump.
“Q-Quinn? Is that you?” Her voice is almost shrill.
We walk to each other and another unbearably firm hug ensues as we both burst into sobs.
Sawyer’s hand never leaves my back. He even massages me in a sweet, yet careful way. I know my physical appearance has to be just as shocking as my actual presence.
“You’re alive?” Bree keeps repeating as if she can hardly believe her eyes.
