Page 105 of Special Delivery

She nibbles on her bottom lip as she takes her jacket and backpack off, placing them on the conveyor belt. Her face is makeup free, her skin pale, but she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.

My pulse rages in my veins as I wait for her to get through the security check. It feels like an eternity until it’s finally her turn, and she runs through the scanner straight into my arms. A sob breaks free from her lips as soon as I wrap my arms around her.

“Shh… What’s wrong, Paige?” I caress her hair as my lips press to her forehead.

A sniffle escapes her before she picks up her gaze, her eyes watery. “I’m sorry, Ryan.”

“What are you talking about?” For a second, the inflated balloon in my chest deflates. “You’re here.” My eyes trail her face, searching for an answer. Please don’t tell me you just came to say goodbye. It’ll kill me. “You’re coming with me, aren’t you?”

She shakes her head, and for a beat, my heart stops. “I should’ve said yes at the wedding. I never should’ve made you feel like you weren’t my first choice.”

“Oh, thank God.” I let out a relieved chuckle, and her brow furrows. “Paige, baby, I thought you were here to say goodbye. I was getting ready to get my heart broken, and then you apologize for something you shouldn’t have to apologize for.”

She sneaks out of my hold, stepping backward. “I should apologize. I made you feel like you didn’t matter. I was just scared to let you in, Ryan… Scared of getting hurt again. But I’m here, and I’m ready to be brave.”

“You’re so fucking brave, Paige. And I’m so glad you’re here now. But we should head to our gate.” I take her hand, but she snatches it back.

“No.”

“No?”

“I have more things to say.” She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. “I love you, Ryan. I was barely living before I met you, and now that I have, I can’t imagine living without you. I can’t imagine going back to that dreadful, boring, Ryan-free life. You tease me, and push me, and make me feel alive. You’re an incredible person and you deserved for me to tell you right away. I never should’ve let you go home thinking I didn’t love you.”

Tears stream down her face, but the boulder in my stomach has fully dissipated, leaving only elation. She loves me.

“I don’t care about that, Paige. I don’t care if I said it first, or if you haven’t said it back. I wouldn’t care if you still needed more time to fall in love with me.” I take a step closer to her, tipping her chin with my finger. “I just want to be near you. It’s all I can think about. Your skin, your scent, your laugh, the roll of those gorgeous blue eyes. I want it all. I want your happiness and your sorrow, your laughter and your tears. More than anything, I want us.”

She wraps her arms around my back, pulling my body flush against hers. “And I really want to go to Peru.”

A laugh bubbles out of me, but I quickly replace it with a kiss. Her soft lips press to mine and elicit a groan from the depths of my chest. The salty taste her tears left on her lips only make me want to kiss her harder, to erase any sadness from her mind. I grab the back of her head with my hands, and a cheer sounds out around us. People woo and clap, but I can’t seem to separate from her. My heart beats louder, finally holding her in my arms. This time for real. This time for good.

“Okay, okay. I’ve allowed this for as long as I could, but you need to move forward now.” The curly-haired TSA agent snakes an arm between us, ungluing our lips.

Paige runs a finger over her mouth. “Thanks for letting me pass.”

“It’s faster when you’re not hiding any sex toys.” She gives Paige a sly wink and returns to the scanner, leaving Paige completely flustered.

A hearty chuckle escapes me. “Come on, baby. We have a plane to catch. Where’s your stuff?” It’s then I notice there’s only a small backpack on the floor next to her feet.

“Erm, I hadn’t really had time to pack. I had to send in a column and move all my plants to Linda’s, which required explaining how to take care of them. So, I pretty much only have my laptop for work, a toothbrush, and a few pairs of socks and underwear.” She lowers to grab the backpack, but I’m quicker, throwing the small bag over my shoulder.

I shake my head, smiling from ear to ear. “Don’t worry, I’ll buy you everything you need. And your column? It’s the best one you’ve written so far.” I press a kiss to her hair, wrap an arm around her shoulders, and lead us toward our future.

Epilogue

PAIGE

A month later…

A view of the small, natural lake and the tall sand dunes surrounding the village sprawls out from the balcony of the tiny apartment we’re renting. Huacachina, a real-life desert oasis, has been our home for the last week. We were supposed to be leaving Peru today, but we postponed our flights by two weeks. The view isn’t the only reason we stuck around here longer. We also needed a home base with an internet connection to achieve our plans, and Huacachina was an easy choice.

“Are you ready?” Ryan’s hand envelops my wrist as it hovers over the Enter key on my laptop’s keyboard.

“Nope,” I respond, chewing on my bottom lip.

The last month has truly been a whirlwind. We did typical touristy things for two entire weeks, exploring the cities and the historical sites. We then spent three nights in the Peruvian jungle, and it was where all the ideas started forming. Still, what we managed to achieve in the last ten days is truly a feat.

Somehow, I managed to convince Martha to change the theme of my column. She was apprehensive, but I’ve sent her three full pieces I’ve written while in Peru, and I guess they were good enough for her to agree. I also promised her I’ll build a full travel blog brand, which will draw readers to the magazine, and it’s the stage we’re currently at.