Page 90

Story: Wandering Wild

I read the document again, the words all but screaming at me through the screen.

Reykjavík.

Vatnajökull National Park.

Diamond Beach.

The Blue Lagoon.

Stokkur Geyser.

It’s a list of all the places I told Zander I wanted to travel to first, and seeing them, I realize?—

Titan’s Waris being filmed in Iceland.

Tears start brimming in my eyes as I understand what this means, what Zander is asking me.

“I know there will be a million challenges ahead,” he says quietly, stepping closer. “I know this is only for a few months, and there’s no certainty beyond that. We could be right back to being two worlds apart. Or maybe—” He moves another step closer. “Maybe it’ll give us a chance to figure out how to make this work. To makeuswork.”

He’s right in front of me now, near enough that I can feel his body heat.

“I want you to come with me, Charlie,” he whispers. “I want to explore Iceland with you, and whatever comes after that. Because I think we’re worth fighting for.” His words are shaky now as he asks, with everything he’s feeling clear in his voice, “The question is, do you?”

My tears are falling steadily now, but I don’t wipe them away. I just hold his gaze, seeing his heart laid bare before me, seeing how much he wants this, wantsme, as well as his fear that I’m going to say no. He doesn’t realize I spent the last two days wishing for this—wishing for a way we could be together and yet still follow our own paths. But now...

I truly must be dreaming.

And it’s the best dream I’ve ever had.

So I decide to embrace it, my voice husky with emotion as I say, “I guess I should ask for a rush order when I renew my passport.”

It takes him a moment to understand my reply, but when he does, his eyes widen, before a relieved, incredulous laugh leaves him, and the next second, I’m being swept up into his arms.

Ember, Maddox, and Summer are whooping from the corner, and Sandy is cheering from the front counter, with the kids peeking their heads out of the party room to see what’s going on. But all I can think about is Zander holding me—and this time, I don’t have to let him go.

Only, there’s one thing I want more than his arms around me—and that’s his lips on mine. So I pull back to make that happen, but he speaks again before I can follow through.

“I had a longer speech prepared,” he says, the joy on his face like pure sunshine. “Maddox and Summer helped me come up with it on the plane here, but once I saw you, every word fled my mind.”

I lean into him, feeling warmth spread through me at his admission, realizing I affect him as much as he does me.

But then he goes on, “Seriously, it was nearly impossible to keep a straight face and not ask what the hell you’re wearing. It’s a miracle I was able to focus at all.” He flicks one of my antennae. “Do you normally dress up like this? Because if so, I might need to?—”

I cut him off by tugging him close and ordering, “Just shut up and kiss me, Zander.”

He doesn’t need any further encouragement, his lips twitching with humor before they finally—finally—meet mine.

Our friends are hooting even louder now, as is Sandy, all over a chorus of “Eww, Miss Hart!” from the watching children.

But I don’t care, because I feel Zander’s mouth smiling against mine, and nothing else matters in our world, just that I’m in his arms, and he’s kissing me.

Our future may be uncertain, but I do know this:

We’re going to step into it, one day at a time.

Chasing our dreams.

Together.