“Well, genius, it seems like she’s looking for someone.” Jacks pushed him forward a few steps. “I can’t imagine who.”
Ryan hitched his backpack higher and starting moving again, picking up his pace until he was damn near running. Bri had already finished with the second agent, and she was heading across the open space to the next cluster of gates. “Bri.” She didn’t pause, didn’t seem to hear him. “Bri!”
She turned a slow circle, as if she wasn’t quite sure what she was looking for. Then she caught sight of him and sprinted in his direction. He caught her halfway, yanking her into his arms, as if by holding her he could actually wrap his mind around the fact that she washere.
Her breath came in harsh pants. “I didn’t think I was going to find you before you left.”
“I’ve been calling. I left you a message.”
Bri clung to him. “My phone’s dead. I flew into Atlanta last night and was in such a hurry that I forgot my charger and then when I was driving there wasn’t anywhere open late enough to stop and buy one and—”
He kissed her, trying to communicate everything he’d left in that last message. When he finally came up for air, she blinked. “Wow.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have said that shit to you before I left.”
She stepped back, though she kept a hold of his hands. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for. I’m the one who let my fear get the better of me. And Iamafraid, Ryan. I’m terrified I won’t be able to handle your leaving me repeatedly. I’m worried that something will happen to you while you’re gone, and I’ll have a complete meltdown and backslide to the helpless kid I was.”
He couldn’t imagine asking her to go through that. Not for him. “Bri—”
“Please let me finish.” She smiled, though it wavered a little around the edges. “I’m terrified, but I’ve spent my entire life without meeting someone I connect with like I connect with you. I can’t let you fly off without trying to make it work.Reallytrying.” She bit her lip. “If you’ll let me.”
“Oh, he’ll let you,” his friend chimed in behind them.
“Shut up, Jacks.” He dragged her into his arms again and claimed her mouth. She went soft against him, her arms going around his neck. Kissing her felt like the most natural thing in the world.
It felt like coming home.
Cheers broke his concentration, reminding him of just where he was. Ryan pulled back with a sheepish grin. “Forgot we had an audience.”
Bri blushed a pretty shade of crimson. “Me, too.”
He cupped her face, tipping it up so she met his gaze. “How about we both try?”
She was already nodding before he finished the sentence. “I’ll wait for you. As long as it takes.”
She’d wait for him. The one thing he never would have dreamed of asking, and she was willing to do it. “We’ll make this work. I promise. And I’d like to get a place in Wellingford.”
“Wellingford?” She frowned. “But you hate it there.”
“I never hated it, exactly.” He brushed her bangs out of the way. “Besides, I recently met this really wonderful woman who’s in love with that little town, and spending time with her has helped me start to see the place through new eyes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So if you’re willing to work with me for a bit, we could have the best of both worlds.” He took a deep breath. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Brianne Nave.”
She kissed him again, ignoring the cheers around them, only stepping back when they were both breathing hard. “Well, Iamfalling in love with you, Ryan Flannery. Of course I’ll work with you. Now and always.”
It figured that she couldn’t help one-upping him, even in this. That was okay. If things went according to his plan, Ryan would have an entire lifetime to turn the tables on her. He grinned at the possibilities.
A lifetime of making new memories with Bri? He couldn’t wait.
Epilogue
Bri stood in the airport, wondering if this ever got easier. She wasn’t sure itshould. Three months without Ryan this time, which was a whole lot better than the six months of the first tour. She’d missed him so desperately, and missed him all the more once she started throwing up and realized…
She clutched the sign to her front and bit her lip. People streamed from the gate exit, branching off to hug loved ones or head toward baggage claim, the majority of them dressed in the Air Force-Army uniform she’d become so familiar with in the last year. Any second now, any minute he’d walk through the opening.
Then she could share her news.