7. Blair
CHAPTER 7
Blair
I stand in my bedroom, my fingers tracing the date circled in bold red on the calendar. Today is the day . The day Vance returns to me. Breathe, Blair. You've waited so long for this moment.
I force myself to tear my eyes away from the calendar and focus on the day ahead. I put on a soft cashmere sweater, the one Vance always says brings out the amber flecks in my eyes and then a pair of dark jeans that hugs my curves in all the right places.
My mind drifts to the last time I'd seen Vance. The intensity in his eyes as he promised to come back to me. That moment replayed in my mind countless times, a lifeline during the lonely months of his deployment.
I take a deep breath, savoring the anticipation. Today marks the end of our long separation and the beginning of our future together. In just an hour, I will be back in his arms, exactly where I belong.
Ready to face the day, I head out of my room, eager to close the distance between us once and for all. Will he pull me into his arms, his lips crashing against mine? Or will he take a moment to drink me in, his eyes roaming over every inch of my body as if committing me to memory all over again?
It has been so long since I've felt his touch, the roughness of his hands against my skin, the way his body molds perfectly to mine. The memories alone are enough to ignite a fire, a longing that has been simmering just beneath the surface since his departure.
Grabbing my keys from the dresser, I take one last look around my room, my eyes landing on a framed photo of Vance, Jace and I. I smile, my heart swelling for the man who has stolen my heart so completely.
The crisp morning air hits my face as I step outside. The world seems sharper, more vibrant, as if every color has been dialed up a notch. I make my way down the path, gravel crunching beneath my feet, and then slide into the driver's seat, the leather cool against my skin. As I turn the key in the ignition, the engine roars to life. And with that, I put the car in gear and pull out of the driveway, my heart racing with each mile that brings me closer to him. The world blurs past my window. All I can think about is Vance, about the moment when I will finally be back in his arms, where I belong. The way his strong arms feel wrapped around me, the warmth of his breath against my skin, the intensity in his eyes when he looks at me. Every moment we've shared played like a movie reel in my head, each frame a precious treasure I cling to during our time apart.
With each mile closer, my heart pounds against my ribcage as if it might burst free at any moment. I try to steady my breathing, but it is a losing battle. The closer I get, the more my nerves fray.
As I merge onto the highway, the traffic thins, and I press down on the accelerator, urging the car faster. And it comes into view, I am ready to seize our future with both hands, to build a future with the man I love more than life itself.
The tires squeal as I pull into the parking lot, my heart racing in tandem with the frenzied activity around me. I step out of the car, surrounded by other families excited that their loved ones are coming home. The plane appears as a distant speck against the cloudless sky. I squint, shielding my eyes from the glaring sun.
As the plane grows larger, so does my anxiety. What if Vance changed his mind?
The roar of engines drown out my thoughts. The plane touches down, its wheels screeching against the runway. This is it. After almost twelve months of separation, Vance is finally home.
I close my eyes briefly, savoring the moment. When I open them, the plane is taxiing toward us. The noise is deafening now, but I barely notice. All I can focus on is the knowledge that Vance is mere moments away from being in my arms again.
The plane door swings open with a hiss. My heart leaps into my throat. Soldiers begin to file out, a sea of camouflage and weary faces. My eyes dart frantically from one to the next, searching for those familiar broad shoulders, that confident stride.
“Where are you?” I whisper, rising onto my tiptoes.
A woman nearby squeals in delight, running towards her reunited love. I swallow hard, fighting back a wave of impatience and fear.
What if he isn't here? What if something happened?
“No,” I scold myself. “He promised.”
I scan the crowd again, my chest tight. “Come on, Vance. I'm right here. I'm waiting.”