“Flynn,” I whisper. A lifetime passes in the span of a heartbeat.
“Delta.” He opens his arms, and I fly into them like a bird returning home. “I missed you. Why did you stay away so long?” His honest words would once cut like a blade.
“I had to work out things in my head. It had a few glitches I’d been ignoring for far too long.”
“I understand what that’s like. You’re here to stay now?”
“Yes.” Stepping back, I squeeze his hand.
“I never meant to hurt you.” His brow furrows. “You’ve always been my best friend. I love you.”
“And I love you.” I bury my nails into the fleshy parts of my palms, mentally grounding myself. I worked a long time with the doc to say this. I won’t chicken out now. “I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. The way I felt wasn’t your fault. I wanted more than you could give. That is on me. You were well within your right to know what you wanted and didn’t. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like that wasn’t true. We’re going to be okay. All of us.”
He studies me with that fathomless gaze that sees more than it should. Perhaps that’s part of why he dislikes making direct eye contact. “When we were younger, we promised we’d stick together.” The corners of his lips turn down into a fierce frown. “But you left.”
“Only for a little while. Even families need space and time to recharge. For me, the only way to recharge was distance.” Understanding dawns in his eyes. “But I will always come back.” The caution on his face hurts my heart. “Have I ever broken a promise?”
“No. You haven’t.” The tension leaves his body. We’re done circling each other. “Next time I do something that hurts, you have to tell me. Because we both know I’ll never know otherwise.”
“I know.” I clear my throat. “I knew it then, but in my head, admitting that would mean the end of us, and I wasn’t ready to let go.” My voice wavers.
“We may not be romantically involved, but we’ll always be family.” The words are precisely what I needed to hear. He has a funny talent for saying the right things at the right time.
“I know that, Flynn. I really do.”
“No more running.” It’s a statement, not a question or a request.
Smiling, I shake my head. It all seems so easy now. “No.”
“We made your favorites for dinner.” He grabs me and tugs me toward the kitchen.
Suddenly, things between us are settled. The familiar warmth brings back memories of safety and security. I glance over to see a teary-eyed Rose and grinning Duncan. It’s nice to be back home where I belong. If only the rest of my plans go this smoothly. I push the thought of my new job away as I focus on the spread on the counter.
“Candied yams with marshmallows!” I cry.
“Have at your overly sweet, sugar-coma-inducing creation,” Duncan says.
I grab a spoon from the drawer and dig into the still warm side dish.
“Disgusting.” Duncan wrinkles his nose.
“I don’t know, I see the appeal now,” Rose shrugs sheepishly.
Duncan’s horrified face makes me snort. “It’s okay, love. I know it’s the hormones talking.”
Flynn gives me a look that screams, Do you see what I have to put up with?
“Let’s eat, family. I have an appointment at eight tonight, and I don’t plan to be late.”
“On Christmas?” Flynn asks.
“It’s a date with destiny,” Rose giggles.
“Funny.” I speak around a mouthful.
“What is she talking about?” Flynn frowns. This isn’t awkward.
“I’m meeting with a new friend. We both had a rough Christmas Eve. This is our way of making sure today is better.”