Chapter 27
Claire
After almost nine hours of driving, dropping off the rental car, and taking a car into the city, we’re in front of my apartment.
I should be tired, sick of being in the car, but I’m not.
I’d do it all over again, just like this.
Just like our time at The Fable Inn, the drive was fairly easy and much more enjoyable when we weren’t white knuckling it like when we left the airport earlier this week.
“I’ll walk you up,” Seth says, getting out of the car and grabbing our bags from the trunk. He didn’t want to make the driver wait, so he said he’d call another car. Honestly, the man is too thoughtful.
The familiar routine of typing in my code in the keypad to unlock the door has me excited to be home.
The Fable Inn was perfect for what we needed, and even though I do plan to visit again, I’m so happy to be home.
I’m thinking about my favorite coffee shop, the weekend bagel I missed out on from my favorite bakery, and just the buzz of the city I love so much.
Seth is close behind as we get into the elevator, taking me to my floor. We don’t do the small talk thing, but instead soak in the silence. It feels comfortable. Warm.
The doors open and Seth gestures for me to walk out first. I lead him to the door, put my key in and open it. The smell is familiar and one that makes me even more happy to be home. Seth sets my bag down and stands with his hands on his hips.
“Well, glad to see we made it back in one piece,” he jokes.
“Yes, it’s good to be home.” I stand in my doorway, looking back inside to my place.
A hand pushes through his salt-and-pepper hair, and his jaw ticks as his eyes fall on mine. Fuck, that look will never get old.
“Between you and me, sort of glad we didn’t get back on an airplane.” He puts a hand on his chest. “It’s too soon.”
“Me too,” I say; one, because the emergency landing will be a hard one to shake, and second, because we were able to spend more time together.
“Alright, well I’m going to head out.” Seth points back down the hallway to the elevator.
I shift my weight to one foot and tilt my head, taking him in from head to toe. I’ve thought about this moment ever since I suggested the drive back. During the drive, I kept reminding myself how this was a blip in our timeline. Nothing that was planned–just the universe bringing us together.
I’d be content if our time together was just what it was, at The Fable Inn, and nowhere else. But, I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t go for what I wanted.
“Hey,” I grab his forearm as he turns to leave, “Do you want to come in?”
His face breaks into a grin, the one that makes me want to kiss him. Right then and there. Like we’ve been doing it forever.
Seth nods, still wearing that smile that is contagious, grabbing the bags and steps in my apartment.
I close the door and feel like my heartbeat is echoing off the walls—quick and nervous.
When Seth walks in, he leaves the bags on the floor by my coffee table, and he takes a scan of the room.
My place is always tidy and put together–I’m someone driven by lists and getting things done.
“How many bedrooms?” he asks about my apartment, peeking down the hall.
“Two. But one is an office” I answer.
Seth closes the distance between us and grabs me, pulling me in for a kiss. He breaks it long enough to say, “So, you’re telling me there’s only one bed?”
And he picks me up, kissing me like he means it. I laugh into it because if there's one thing about me, it’s that I love to follow a rule.
THE END