She was afraid he'd wander too far or cross the wrong street or brush up against something outside his wheelhouse.
He couldn't blame her.He'd kept his worries to himself.He was afraid of things, but mostly he was determined not to disappoint Kallie.
When he reached the apartment building, the air carried a faint scent of laundry detergent and someone's burnt dinner.He paused outside the door, took a breath, then unlocked it.
Kallie was on the couch, knees pulled to her chest, staring at the door like she'd been doing it for hours.The moment she saw him, she shot to her feet.
"Finn!"
He barely had time to close the door before she threw her arms around him.He caught her easily, lifting her off the ground as she buried her face in his neck.Her breath trembled against his skin.
"You're home," she whispered.
"Yeah," he murmured, holding her close.
She pulled back just enough to search his face, her eyes wide and curious."Are you okay?Did everything go all right?You were gone so long."
He walked her backward."Everything went fine."
A whisper of relief escaped her."Really?"
He nodded, and a slow smile spread across his face."I got the job."
"No."She swiftly inhaled."Oh, my God, really?"
"Yeah," he repeated, softer this time.
Kallie's hands flew to her mouth as her eyes filled with tears.She let out a shaky laugh and threw her arms around him again, hugging him so tightly he felt it in his ribs.
"Finn, that's amazing," she whispered."I'm so proud of you."
He closed his eyes, absorbing her happiness.This moment made every risk worth it.He had a job, a place, and Kallie.
Later, after she reheated dinner and they sat on the couch with plates balanced on their knees, Finn let himself relax completely.Kallie kept glancing at him as if she couldn't believe he was really there, and each time, something warm bloomed in his chest.
"My boss seems like a decent guy."He shoveled in a forkful of pasta."There was an old Harley in the shop.Man, she was a beauty.It reminded me of the bike I had in Everstill."
She listened with wide eyes and a smile that made him feel ten feet tall."Do you miss riding?"
"There's nothing else like it."He swallowed.
There were times he and Moe rode together in Everstill, and he'd felt something like memories surface.But the details remained out of reach.
"I bet you'll learn a lot."She wiped her mouth on her napkin."Did you say your hours will be during the day?"
"Yeah, seven to four."
"That's perfect."She carried her plate to the kitchen."We'll both get off around the same time."
"It's only a mile and a half from here, too.Not far to walk."He reached for his glass, and something shifted at the edge of his vision.
A ripple in the air.
He froze.
It was quick—so quick he almost convinced himself he'd imagined it.The lamp beside the couch dimmed for a heartbeat, then brightened again.He tilted his head.The air felt heavy, like the moment before a glitch in Everstill.
Finn's pulse kicked up.
