The Long Way Home (Corps Security #6)(52)

Riley gives me a big hug and that toothy smile I love so much. I ruffle her curls a little with my fingers before I stand to hug Ella as well.

She didn’t so much as blink when I asked her if she would keep Riley and handle the shop by herself. I know she has help and isn’t completely alone. Grace will help with Riley, and she has Lewis at the shop. This isn’t the first time she’s had to cover by herself. I know the nerves about the trip have me the most on edge, not actually the ability she has to cover the shop on her own. She could do it all with her eyes closed.

I’m not really worried about her or even Riley. It’s how he’ll handle the fallout after our trip and the reunion. I’m worried these people will make it harder than it already is for him. I don’t know them, so I can only pray that they’ll handle it okay. Mostly, though, I just worry about him.

“You’ll let me know if you need me to come home early, right?” I ask Ella.

“I won’t need you to come back early. I might not know everything that’s going on, but I know it’s something important to you. That’s all I need to know right now, girlfriend. We’ve got it covered, and we’ll have a great time.”

“One of the guys will walk you two to her school and the shop. Please make sure and use one of the numbers I gave you if you plan on leaving the condo,” Drew adds.

“Yes, sir,” she smarts, saluting.

He shakes his head, but I see a hint of a smile on his lips.

“Come here, beanie,” he says softly to Riley.

She moves to stand in front of him with the grace of a dancer, twirling on her toes. He drops to his knee, taking her hand in his and earning her giggles.

“Gonna miss our mornings and bedtime stories, little girl.”

“Me too, giant. Will you read bedtime stories to Auntie? That will help you not miss me as much.”

“You bet he will,” Ella jokes under her breath.

“Not any of the good ones I save for you, though,” he says, ignoring Ella.

“You’ll come home to me, though? Right?”

“You can count on that.”

My eyes get wet, and I know I’m going to cry soon. To witness seeing how much those two love each other is something so beautiful. They have a bond, one that no one else can touch. Something about that bond, giving her something she’s been missing her whole life, I can’t help but hope this never fades for them … or us.

She smirks, hugging his neck before taking Ella’s hand again. They stand at the curb by her car and wave as we grab our suitcases and start walking into the airport.

It’s been three days since that night at his place, when he let me in and we made the plans to travel to Georgia—where his family is clueless to what is about to arrive on their doorsteps. He’s so nervous and so unlike the man I’ve come to love.

It doesn’t take long for us to check our bags and make our way to the gate. We still have some time to spare, so we settle in and wait for them to call our flight. I had grabbed some food and drinks for us as we walked through the airport, but nothing too exciting. Candy and chips from the news stand and two bagels from the café near our gate. It’s enough to keep him distracted at least.

“I don’t want it to be a surprise when he gets there, but the man I told you found me? He’s going to come by the hotel and help me clean up. I need to get a haircut, probably a shave. Years might have passed, but how I look right now is nothing like the man they said goodbye to. It would be less shocking for them to become less of the man I am now.”

I blink up at him, not too sure how to respond. He never put his contacts back in after that night at his place, letting his beautiful and stunning blue eyes shine bright. If anyone else noticed, they didn’t say anything. This is big, though. His hair is long, his facial hair is plentiful, and while I know he’ll be just as handsome any way he looks … it’s a lot of change in a short time when he’s already struggling so much, especially with the emotional reunion to come. So many changes can’t be easy to handle at one time.

“It’s been like this out of necessity, not because I like it. It’s a good change, babe. Promise.”

His eyes are clear—no shadows and no pain.

“I’m not sure I can handle you getting more handsome, honey.”

He laughs softly. “I might look like an ogre …. You never know. Been a long time since I looked in the mirror and saw any parts of the man I was before.”

“You could never look like an ogre.”

“Tell me that later after Sway gets his hands on me.”

“Sway?”

“Yeah, the one I told you about. You’ll love him. One of the best men I’ve ever known. Just watch out for him if he gets his hands on glitter,” he adds oddly with the most serious of expressions on his face.

“No glitter, got it.”

“You’ll like him, Liv, and he is going to love you.”

“I can’t wait to meet him,” I tell him honestly.

He smiles, and I’m relieved to see some of the stress over our trip is gone from his face. I know it’s still lingering below the surface, but he doesn’t appear as nervous as he had been. We continue our wait, snacking and talking about a whole bunch of nothing, passing our time comfortably together. When they call our flight, I know he’s getting nervous again. It’s coming off him in waves, but he’s also gone silent.