Lainey is there, leaning against my door, her suitcase beside her.
“Lainey?” My voice cracks, disbelief flooding me. “What are you doing here? I thought you were on a plane.”
She straightens, her eyes locking with mine. “I forgot something.”
I swallow hard, the lump in my throat making it impossible to speak. Without thinking, I walk over, unlocking the door. I push it open, stepping aside and motioning for her to enter. She hesitates for a moment before walking inside, her steps tentative, almost uncertain. I follow, shutting the door softly behind us.
The soft click echoes in the quiet space. She turns to face me, her expression unreadable, but her eyes—they hold something I haven’t dared to hope for.
“What… what did you forget?” I ask.
She takes a step forward, her lips curve into a small, soft smile. “You.”
The word knocks the air out of me. I blink, stunned. “Me?”
She nods, her eyes shining with emotion.
I don’t give myself time to think. I cross the space between us in two strides, my hands cupping her face as I kiss her. It’s soft at first, but the moment she responds, it deepens, all my fear and regret pouring into the kiss. Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling me closer, and for the first time in what feels like forever, everything feels right.
When we finally break apart, my forehead rests against hers. “Lainey, I’m so sorry,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “I was an idiot. I was scared, and I pushed you away because of it.”
Her hand presses gently against my chest. “Zach—”
“No, let me say this.” I pull back just enough to meet her gaze, my heart pounding. “I’ve spent my whole life believing in this stupid Darling curse. That no one in my family gets a happy ending. I thought I was protecting us—protecting you—from becoming another casualty.”
Her eyes soften, tears brimming as she listens.
“But it was all fear, Lainey. That curse? It’s just me being too afraid to believe I could have something good. Something perfect. You showed me that I was wrong.” My voice trembles. “I love you, Lainey. I love you so much it terrifies me. But I’m done letting fear control me. I’m done pushing you away.”
Tears spill down her cheeks as she steps closer. “I love you too, Zach,” she whispers, her voice breaking.
Relief crashes over me like a wave, and I pull her into another kiss. This one is slower, filled with everything I’ve wanted to tell her but couldn’t put into words.
When we pull apart, she smiles through her tears, her voice trembling but strong. “Just so you know, Chloe and Wyatt called me and told me not to get on the plane.”
“They did?”
She nods. “Blair also texted me, and your dad… he left me a voicemail.”
Of course, they did. I can’t help the soft laugh that escapes me, a mix of relief and disbelief. “What did they say?”
Her hand lingers on my chest, right over my heart. “Wyatt and Chloe said you couldn’t imagine a future without me. Without the baby. Is it true?”
I cover her hand with mine, pressing it against my chest as if to make sure she feels every beat of my heart. “Yes,” I say, my voice steady and firm. “It’s true. I can’t imagine my life without either of you. And I don’t ever want to.”
Her breath hitches, and her smile widens, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “You really love me?”
“With everything I have,” I say softly, my voice carrying all the weight of my feelings. “What did Blair and my dad say?”
Her lips twitch into a small, fond smile. “Blair said I’d be an idiot to get on that plane and let you ruin everything. And your dad… he apologized.”
My brows shoot up. “He apologized?”
She nods, her voice softening. “He said he was wrong about me, about us. He told me he never meant to hurt you or make you feel like you had to push me away. He said you’re happiest when you’re with me and that I should give you another chance. And…” She hesitates, her eyes glistening as she searches my face. “He said he’d love to have me over for dinner so he could apologize to me in person. And that I’m family now.”
Emotion swells in my chest, leaving me momentarily speechless. My dad—apologizing, inviting her to dinner, calling her family—it’s more than I ever expected. For a moment, I can’t find the words, so I tighten my hold on her hand, letting my gaze say what I can’t.
“There’s something else I need to tell you,” she says softly, her eyes searching mine.
