Chapter Forty-Four
Allie
“It’s so good to finally meet you, Allie. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Shelly wraps me in a hug the moment I step into what I know as the infamous Hideout.
“You too. Thank you for letting me come and help celebrate Landon.”
Shelly pulls away and levels her light blue gaze with mine. “Oh sweetie, I would have my ass kicked seven ways to Sunday if you weren’t here. My son may not say much or reveal many secrets, but I know with certainty that if I didn’t invite his best friend to his homecoming party, I would be in some serious trouble.”
“Hey! I’m his best friend!” We all turn to see Noah walking inside, carrying a handful of waters. He moves quickly and sets the case on the counter before turning to me, a big smile on his face.
“Hi Allie! Welcome to the chaos! Can I give you a hug?”
My eyes go wide at his excited energy and Shelly whispers in my ear, “Sorry. He’s like a golden retriever. He gets excited easily and loves meeting new people. It’s better just to accept his love and go along for the ride.”
I chuckle and nod towards Noah. Seconds later, he wraps me in a hug.
“Why are all these Hayes men so damn tall?” I say as Noah pulls away from me.
Seriously, these men are gigantic.
Shelly pats me on the back before moving back to the stovetop to finish cooking.
“I like to think it’s because there are four of them and the universe wanted to save my sanity and make them all similar heights, so no one was picking on the little one.”
We all chuckle as the door opens again and Harper, Gray, Wes, and Lainey all walk in.
A feeling of panic starts to rise in my chest. I went from being around only Landon for months, to a rehab center with only a few women in my constant circle, to just Logan, then Logan and Grayson when he came home last night. Now I am in a room full of people I barely know, waiting for a man I am so anxious to see.
Logan must sense something, because she sidles up to me and bumps my shoulder, giving me a sympathetic look. “I know that look. It’s a lot and I’m sorry. I planned on integrating you slowly, but Landon coming home kinda fast tracked everything. I promise they will understand if you need to step outside and take a breather. But just know you are safe here and I will be by your side all day, I promise.”
Taking a deep breath, I nod and lean into her. “Thanks Lo. Sorry, I think it’s the nerves that are starting to get to me. Crowds are never an issue, but I guess today mixed with seeing him for the first time is a little harder than I expected.”
“Don’t apologize. Your feelings are absolutely valid. Anyone here would feel the same way. Hell, the first time I met Noah, I was in a bikini and had a massive bruise on my back. Talk about embarrassing, but look at us now.”
I can’t help but laugh and relax a little. “I’m going to need the full story of that later, please.”
“You got it. Is it okay if I introduce you to the rest of the family, or do you need a moment?”
“I’m good.” Leaning into her ear, I whisper, “Just don’t run off. I have worked my ass off the past few months, but today I will need all the support I can get.”
Logan flashes me a smile. “Consider yourself glued to me today.”
I shake my head and let Lo lead us over to everyone standing in the living room.
“Hey Allie,” Grayson says, before kissing Logan on top of the head and heading back outside.
He got home late last night from a mission and was exhausted. We didn’t have a ton of time to talk, but in the little we did, I can see why Logan fell for him. He is caring, attentive, and possibly a little obsessed with her.
“Al, this is Harper. The infamous, red-headed, pain in my ass.”
Harper tosses her long beautiful red hair over her shoulder and fake gasps, “You wound me, Lo. And to think you loved me.”
Logan shakes her head and Harper laughs. “Hi Allie. It’s good to finally meet you. It will be nice having another girl around. All this testosterone gets to be too much sometimes.”
Smiling, I say, “Nice to meet you too. Lo has told me so much about you over the year. Before everything went to hell, I always thought it would have been nice for y’all to come to Florida and take a break from the weather up here.”
Crossing her cream sweater covered arms over her chest, she sighs, “Count me in. Work has been hell and I am ready for a vacation.”
“Vacation? Can I come?” Lainey says, throwing her arm around Harper. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to eavesdrop. It’s great to see you again, Allie.”
“You too Lainey.”
Lainey smiles at me, still looking like a damn Disney princess.
I am just about to ask Lainey about work when someone taps me on the shoulder. Turning around, I am stunned for a moment to see that it’s Wes and holy shit. This man is intimidating.
His dark blues stare down at me. His face is unwavering, and he looks around the room as if he wants to be anywhere but here. But that can’t be. He is the one that facilitated all of Landon’s treatment and was the one who dragged him there. If anyone should be excited to see him more than myself or his parents, it should be him.
“Sorry. Rough night,” Wes apologizes, his face softening slightly. “Landon will be here in ten minutes and asked if you would wait outside for him. He is feeling overwhelmed and everyone rushing him would not be good.”
My heart feels like it is going to explode at the thought of being minutes away from seeing Landon again. Panic starts to rise in my chest and I feel like I’m going to pass out when Logan loops her arm through mine, whispering in my ear, “Breathe. You got this. He wouldn’t have asked to see you if he felt anything other than excited to see you.”
She’s right. Of course she is. Landon is always honest and doesn’t do anything unless he wants to.
Taking a deep breath, I turn my attention back to Wes and nod.
“Thank you.” Looking around me, he motions his head towards the upstairs. “Harper. May I speak to you, please?” As the words leave his mouth, he begins to walk away.
Harper scoffs. “Why? Landon is almost here. Can it wait?”
Wes’s steps falter, and he levels her with the scariest look I’ve ever seen. My head snaps to Harper, and she looks bored and annoyed.
“Now Harper Olivia.”
Harper throws her head back in annoyance and mutters something under her breath, but follows him.
Lainey, Logan, and I all look at each other, confusion written all over our faces. “Umm. What was that?” Lainey asks.
Shrugging her shoulders, Logan glances back up the stairs as a door shuts. “I have no idea, but I’m glad that I’m not the only one that noticed it.” Turning her attention to me, she spins me around and pushes me towards the door. “Out you go. You got this.”
Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders and walk out the door.
I can do this. It’s just Landon. My best friend. I can do this.
A black truck pulls into the driveway and my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. I’ve been standing out here for five minutes, but it feels like hours.
Not sure where to look, I glance down at my feet until I hear doors close.
Landon’s dad walks right over to me and I finally understand where they all got the height from because this man is a giant.
“Hi. You must be Allie. I’m Conrad. It’s great to finally meet you,” he says, holding out his hand.
Returning the gesture, I shake his hand. “Thank you. Same to you.”
“I know you two have a lot to talk about, so I won’t keep you. Thank you, Allison.”
My brows furrow. “Thank you for what? I’m sorry.”
A smile spreads across his face and he looks over his shoulder briefly. “Thank you for saving him. You may not know it now, but you are the reason he is here and his mother and I will forever be grateful.”
Words fail me, and all I can do is nod and smile as he walks away.
Do not cry Allie. Do not cry. Not yet.
The plea is useless the moment my eyes lock with Landon’s. Just a few feet away, he stands there looking gorgeous in his tight jeans and dark flannel, his storm filled blues staring straight at me.
My feet are locked in place and I’m stuck.
He’s here. He is really here.
Months of letters and hoping that everything that I imagined in my mind is standing here right in front of me and I am frozen. I don’t know if I want to cry or run into his arms.
Luckily, he takes the decision away for me and eliminates the distance between us with a big smile on his face. “Hi Allie Girl. Did you miss me?”
My shoulders deflate and a laugh escapes me as I throw my arms around his neck, his arms instantly wrapping around me, holding me close.
My feet leave the ground as he stands to his full height and buries his face in my neck.
An overwhelming sense of peace overtakes me and the comfortable silence that I craved for so long returns.
“I missed you Storm.” My voice cracks, but I don’t care. This man became my other half and best friend in the darkest moment of my life. Regardless of what the future holds, nothing will ever take that bond away. We both worked hard on ourselves for months to be two people that can standalone and now here we are back together and it feels right.
Despite all of that and the dire need to fall straight into him and never leave, I know we need to take this slowly. One day at a time. We are still healing and we need to see if we can be there for each other and not fall back into old habits.
And with that in mind, I tap his arm and he sets me back on my feet, but keeps me in his arms.
His dark blues shine with exhaustion, and his forehead falls to rest against mine. “Sorry. I wanted this moment to be just us. I didn’t want you to get lost in the sea of my family.”
“It’s okay,” I mutter.
Leaning back, he loops both his pinkies through mine and my stomach fills with butterflies. “I know we have a lot to discuss, but this isn’t the place for it. Would you want to come back with me to my place after this is all over and talk?”
My heart is screaming yes, but my brain is screaming no.
One step at a time. It will all be worth it in the end.
“I think it may be best if we meet up tomorrow. You are already exhausted and, like you said, we have a lot that needs to be discussed, so I think we both need to get a good night’s rest and get together tomorrow.”
His shoulders deflate and I can see the slight hint of disappointment but acknowledgement that I am right. “You’re right.”
Pulling him into a hug, I rest my head on his chest. “What did you just say?”
His chest moves as he chuckles and pinches my side. I try to jump back, but he doesn’t let me and pulls me into a hug. “Don’t push it, sweetheart.”
My arms lock around him and his head rests atop mine. “I missed you so much, Bluebird.”
“I missed you too, Storm.”
For the first time in months, I feel like I can finally think clearly. All the pain and hurt I had to work through the past few months was to get me to this point where I could stand alone in this world without my favorite people. I know in my heart that I did all of this for myself because being able to be your own rock shows a level of strength I didn’t know existed.
What I didn’t know was that strength can multiply by millions when you get to be the rock for someone you care deeply about. Standing here with this man, shows me that I not only can stand alone, but I can also be his rock on a hard day.