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Late afternoon, my phone vibrates again.

Hayden: Hope it went well… I’m proud of you

Fuck, okay, I can’t leave him hanging anymore.

Me: sorry for the late reply… it went well. miss you.

I turn on the TV to watch Bake Off and my phone stays suspiciously quiet. I don’t think much of it, but when the sun slowly starts to set, I become worried. He’s never taken so long to reply. Is he mad at me?

Me: you okay?

After thirty minutes, I put on a rom-com instead, but the acting is so bad that I cringe. I turn the TV off and try to read, but the sci-fi novel Kora lent me is way too complicated, and I don’t have the capacity right now to understand all the tech jargon. Relief floods me when my phone finally buzzes with a message from Hayden.

Hayden: I’m sorry. I didn’t get a chance to check my phone until now. I’m glad your meeting went well. I sent you a little gift for the occasion

Me: it’s all good, I just got a little worried. and what gift? a sex toy?

Hayden: Better than that! I got a notification saying it was left on your porch

Me: oh, let me check.

I jog to the front door. I’m excited to see what he sent. I told him to stop sending gifts, but he won’t listen. I have something at my door every other day. I secretly love it though.

I swing the front door open, my gaze landing on the empty doormat in front of me. When I look up to see where the package could be, I see it. Or better said, I see him.

Hayden.

Chapter 39

Hayden

Robin is frozen in shock.

It would be quite funny if I wasn’t so nervous. I’m not a nervous person in general, but I am right this moment.

It’s only been a few weeks since I last saw her, but it feels much longer. Leaving her was hard, but seeing her now, I know that all the stress and preparations of the past few days were worth it. Endless sleepless nights, dreadful phone calls, uncomfortable conversation––it was all worth it to be next to her again.

“Oh my God,” she finally says, her feet moving from the spot she was glued to. A heartbeat later she flies into my arms, her hands around my neck, and I pull her close. “What are you doing here?” Her voice sounds shaky.

“I wanted to surprise you. And celebrate your big achievement.”

I don’t want to let her go. Having her in my arms again feels like coming home. All the anxiety from the last few days, and the deep exhaustion that seems to permanently live in my bones, seeps out of me.

I’m home.

She moves in my arms, and I let her pull back just enough so we can look at each other. “You came all this way just to celebrate my new job?”

“Obviously.” I can barely handle the way she looks at me. I don’t think I deserve to be looked at like this. Like I am her whole world.

She’s my whole world.

“I missed you too much to stay away for long.” I cup her face with my hands and kiss her softly.

She sinks into my body immediately, a sigh escaping her lips.

Fuck, I missed all the noises she makes. We deepen the kiss, and there’s a desperation behind it. Like we were starved for days and now we need to make up for it.

When she comes up for air, she gives me a weak smile. “Want to go inside, or should we keep giving the neighbors a show?”