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“Sir, please.” Sam raised his hands placatingly. “This is kind of a big moment for me. May I?”

The man blew air out of his lips and resumed scrolling on his phone.

“Sam, what…” Arden couldn’t believe this was happening. Except she didn’t know what was happening. All she knew was that she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Sam Keller, and suddenly he was here, waiting with her in the line to get through airport security.

“Arden.” Sam reached for both of her hands. The line moved slowly, and they both scooted forward, not taking their eyes off each other.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m getting to that. Sorry, I just”—Sam rubbed a spot under his ribs—“crazy stitch in my side.” He held up one finger as he took a deep breath. “I had to come find you. As soon as you left, I felt it.”

“Felt what?”

“I felt bereft. I felt like I really, really didn’t want you to leave.”

“Oh, Sam.” Arden squeezed his hand consolingly. “I didn’t want to say goodbye to you, either. But didn’t we decide that there’s no way forward? Your home is here, and my home is there. As much as I wish—”

“It was fear,” Sam blurted. “I thought I was being practical and grown-up about it, but the reason I said I could never leave Seattle was fear. Plain and simple. I’ve never been away from my family. My entire life, I’ve tried to avoid disappointing them. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had this feeling like I’m jumping over fiery pits of lava. Anytime I was at risk of disappointing my parents, I’d jump, avoid it—and then I’d be safe again, but only until the next one. None of my siblings have ever really, truly failed at anything. We’ve never done anything other than make our parents proud. And I realized that moving away from Seattle wouldn’t be failing. I would be following my heart. And I think—even if they were sad to see me go—the love would still be there. It might even make them proud, in a way.” He cleared his throat, seemingly catching himself before he went further down this family-related tangent. “But it’s not about them and whether they’re proud of me. It’s about you.”

“I—” Arden mouthed at Sam like a heart-eyed goldfish. Had he said something about moving to Florida, or had she imagined that?

They both realized that the line had moved up significantly during Sam’s speech. They hurried forward, then turned back toward each other.

“Arden. I want to give us a shot. And if it goes as well as I think it will, if we decide it’s what we both want, then I can be the one to move. If, you know…” He laughed nervously. “If it comes to that.”

“Sam. I don’t know what to say to all that except—” She put a hand on either side of his face and kissed him. He responded with enthusiasm. In her head, people whooped and cheered. When she finally pulled back, beyond Sam’s flushed, smiling face, she saw a crowd of people all minding their own business. One woman was looking at them curiously but looked down at her phone as soon as she caught Arden’s eye.

Arden laughed and kissed Sam again.

“So, does this mean…?” Sam said.

“I have no idea.”

“Okay. Yeah, I mostly only planned up to my little speech. Didn’t plan anything after that. Because I didn’t know how you would respond. But if you’re responding in the affirmative”—Arden nodded, feeling a crazed grin on her face. Sam paused to kiss the tip of her nose—“then I wonder how you would feel about a slight change of plan.”

“What plan?”

“You go back to work on January third, right?”

“Right.” Arden twined her fingers through Sam’s, unsure where he was going with this.

“I was wondering… My parents are throwing a New Year’s Eve shindig. Would you like to join me? As my date this time? If you’re not sick of us, that is.”

“Sick of you? I think we’re just getting started.” Arden looped her arms around Sam’s neck and kissed him again. I could get used to this.

Feeling victorious, Arden held Sam’s hand and led him out of the TSA line. As they headed for the exit, Arden stopped at the ticket counter. She explained the situation to the woman at the desk, pointing over her shoulder at Sam, who waved happily. The woman pursed her lips, hunched over her keyboard, and then straightened up with a slight smile.

“You’re all set. Switched you to the January second flight at the same time. Free of charge.”

Arden thanked her profusely and skipped back to Sam. He slipped an arm around her waist and steered her toward the door, calling over his shoulder to the woman at the desk, “Happy holidays!”

Arden nuzzled into Sam’s shoulder, barely able to believe this was happening.

“Wait.” She had just realized something. “Phoebe is coming back tonight. I won’t be able to stay there.”

“That’s right.” Sam kissed the top of her head. “Your days of staying in my sister’s apartment are over, I’m afraid.” He paused, considering. “If you’re okay with staying with me, I mean.”

“More than okay.”