The Day He Came Back

I remained silent as he spoke.

“I’m sorry I went quiet. But I had to. The past several weeks have been some of the most difficult days of my life—not because I wasn’t sure of what I wanted, but because I knew I would have to hurt a good woman who loved me. I couldn’t tell you how I truly felt until I’d handled what I needed to with Paige. But Raven...once I found out the truth about why you left me, there was never any question what I wanted. I never stopped loving you, either. I only suppressed it. Even when I thought you’d chosen to break up with me, I couldn’t stop. I’ve looked for you in every woman I’ve ever met, trying to find that same connection, those emotions I felt when I was with you, but that was never possible, because there’s only one you.”

Our breaths were ragged as he finally kissed me. I thought I might burst with happiness. As our kiss grew deeper, I forgot we were in a crowded airport.

When we finally broke apart, he said, “I just thank God I found out the truth when I did...not after I was married. Because I’m not sure the outcome would have been any different. I couldn’t have ignored it. It wouldn’t have been fair to be with someone else when I’m so deeply in love with you. All these years, not a day went by when I didn’t think about you. But I never imagined I’d see the day you told me you felt the same way. We lost ten years, but I will spend every day of the rest of my life making it up to you.”

I started crying all over again. This is really happening?

He moved back to look at me, seeming just as in awe of this moment as I was. He took my hands in his. “Not long after we started dating, I told you that you’d always have me if you needed me. I meant it. Even back then, I knew there would never be another person who made me feel the way you do. In ten years, it never happened. I wasn’t meant to feel complete with anyone else. I was meant to be with you, Raven. I love you with all of my heart and soul, and I always have.”

It felt like the first time I’d truly exhaled in a decade.

I wiped my eyes. “Am I dreaming?”

“No, baby. This is very real.”

I ran my hands through his hair, appreciating every sensation at the tips of my fingers. I could finally say My Gavin.

I suddenly remembered our surroundings. Wanting to be alone with him, I couldn’t get out of here fast enough.

“Where’s your luggage?” he asked.

Looking around, I admitted, “I can’t find it.”

He smiled. “My little world traveler.”

I laughed for the first time since landing in England.

Gavin managed to locate where my luggage would be coming in.

After a few minutes, I spotted my floral suitcase. “That’s me with the flowers.”

Gavin lifted it off the conveyor belt. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”***Gavin’s loft was a former historic warehouse that had been transformed into a sleek city residence. It was right on the Thames River, and more beautiful than I could have imagined.

With triple-height ceilings and original, metal-framed windows, the view was spectacular. The inside featured exposed bricks and chunky wooden ceiling beams.

I looked around and walked over to the window, still somehow expecting to wake up from this dream.

I felt like I’d walked into someone else’s life in a strange land. Part of me knew it was Paige’s life I’d invaded. I was certain the pain of what happened with her was fresher than Gavin was letting on.

What if he ended up regretting this decision? There was still so much up in the air—like the fact that he lived here and I lived in Florida.

Gavin returned from wheeling my suitcase into one of the rooms. Apparently, he could sense the questions swirling in my mind.

He rubbed my arms as he stood behind me. “Talk to me.”

Turning to face him, I asked, “Paige still works with you, right?”

“No.” He sighed. “We agreed on a severance package. She didn’t want to work under me anymore, given the situation. I can’t blame her. She’s understandably very hurt. I’ll tell you everything about how things ended soon. But tonight I just want to enjoy you. I don’t want to think about any of the rest.”

I wished I could turn off all of my questions. “All of this…it just seems…too good to be true.”

“Be specific. The fact that you’re here? Or the fact that I still love you?”

“Everything. I don’t want you to rush into anything you’ll end up regretting. I mean, we’ll have to do long distance. It’s not going to be easy.”