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“Thanks,” I say, voice rough.

“Don’t forget the Midol and chocolate,” she says, winking and dipping around me to continue on her way.

I open my mouth to thank her again, but she’s gone. A little turned around, I obediently go to the medicine aisle and get some Midol, then pick out a few chocolate options, and pay at the register. As I hit the street, bag in hand, a strong sense of belonging hits me, even though this city isn’t my home. I think, knowing that she’s here, that I fit into her life, that I have a role there, makes me feel good.

Security.

For the first time…since I got left behind.

Serena’s filling a spot not even Marion could fill.

I clear my throat and keep walking, heading to a little burger joint a few blocks down. It’s late, and it doesn’t take long to get a couple orders of burgers and fries, then carry everything back to the hotel and to our room. She’s curled up in the bed in one of my shirts, eyes heavy.

“Hey,” she says.

“Hey, baby, I got everything I could think of,” I say, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Chocolate, pads, all that shit. And dinner.”

She pushes herself up, eyes soft.

“Come here,” she says.

I do, and she leans up to kiss me. She tastes like the cherry Chapstick I know she keeps in her makeup bag.

“Thank you,” she whispers, pulling back.

“I love you,” I say, before I can stop myself.

Her body tenses, pupils blowing. Fuck, did I mess everything up?

“You do?” she asks.

I nod, heart pounding. She kisses me again, this time deeper and longer. When we break apart, she sniffs and smiles shakily.

“I love you, too,” she breathes.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Sliding my hand around her nape, I pull her in again and kiss her mouth, her forehead, the side of her neck. God, I’m so damn relieved. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since I laid eyes on her a year and a half ago. That’s a whole lot of suffering to go through. It was all worth it in the end.

It all worked out. And it’s gonna keep on working out, I believe that.

We eat together, a movie flickering on the TV. She falls asleep against me, and I shift us both down until we’re on the pillows and pull her into my arms.

The next morning, she’s pretty grumpy, which I expected. I bring her breakfast and another Midol, pack us both into a car, and get us to the airport just in time to catch our plane. We’re in first class, so there’s space for her to curl up against my side. She’s out like a light, before we even take off.

I take out my phone and open my calendar.

There’s a million and one appointments here, from meetings to phone calls to boardroom appointments. Until I met her, I didn’t think any of these things could wait. Now, I’ve found that if I ask for a little time, most people are willing to give it. And the ones who won’t can go the way Lenny went.

I glance through the window. How many times have I looked out over the clouds? Not many. Usually, I’ve got my laptop open and my headphones on.

I’m at a crossroads.

Hopefully, the conversation I have with Coen when I see him helps clear some things up. He didn’t give much insight when I spoke to him before. I put my phone away and lean back, resting my eyes for a moment.

There’s time.