Falling Forward ✔

Chapter Twenty-Five - Reece

I can't stop freaking out the whole way to Montreal. I'm meeting his family, Bastien's family. Moreover, I'm going to another country for a man. Again.

An unwanted bolt of fear shoots up my spine, sends my thoughts into a tailspin. I start peering around corners, jumping at my own shadow. Suddenly I'm that broken little girl again.

Not the same thing.

Not the same guy.

Breathe.

My heart's in my throat when the plane lands. I grip my shoulder bag tightly to my chest, chew my lip as I'm jostled around among a crowd of people scurrying from one flight to another, eager to be on their way in preparation for the holiday season.

I follow the signs toward baggage claim, only half aware of my surroundings and even less aware of the faces that pass me as my mind swirls through every single thing that could possibly go wrong.

What if they don't like me?

That question has haunted me for the past week, ever since Bas asked me to come with him. It's taken Asher's signature spot in my nightmares. I'm damaged, not what any parent would want for their son.

I'm so caught up in my thoughts that I don't see the person in front of me until we collide. The girl yelps, tilts a head of brown hair up, and glares. "Regarde ça salope!"

"Sorry!" I hold my hands up in apology, sidestep her glower, and start paying more attention to where I'm going.

I find the baggage claim not long after, stand idly among the crowd as we wait for our bags to start rolling around the massive conveyor belt. There's a sign overhead, lit in red, which I'm assuming means something like 'shut up and wait'.

I sigh, lean back into the wall, and pull my phone from my pocket. It's still in airplane mode, so I switch that off and wait for a signal. Almost instantly, text messages and missed call notifications flash over my screen, obscuring my background of Bas in his hockey jersey.

Swiping up, I flip through the texts, replying to Kaila and my dad that I've arrived safely. Then there's Bas's message.

Bas: You land yet?

I bite my lips together, suppress my smile, and type out a simple response.

Me: At baggage claim.

I tuck my phone in my pocket, glance up at the sign to find it still red. There's a vibration and I retrieve my phone, only half surprised to find he's already responded.

Bas: Great.

The sound of gears shifting into motion halt my reply. The sign over my head switches to green and the conveyor belts start moving at a crawl. I lock the device and step up to the edge of the belt, eagerly searching for my duffel bag.

I packed light for this trip, not that I really had much to bring anyways. All I wear are jeans and tank tops covered by hoodies. Well, maybe a bit of make-up too. Just in case I have to impress anyone.

Without warning, a band of warm steel twines around my waist. I almost scream, my entire body going rigid. Then the familiar smell of the forest in winter overwhelms my senses and everything is suddenly right in the world.

"Bonjour ma belle." His voice, low and sweet, sends shivers down my spine. I turn in his arms, punching his shoulder in greeting. He flinches, feigning shock. "Hey!"

"You scared the hell out of me!" I chastise, punch him again.

"I've missed you beating up on me." He teases, flashing that crooked smile. A thrill curls my toes and shoots up my body, filling me with warmth.