Always You - A Second Chance Romance

Chapter 15

The wheels of the plane touched ground and my anxiety grew inside me. I was home, and that meant many things. I would finally get to sleep in my own bed for one thing, and I would get to see Nick. My stomach fluttered at the idea of seeing him for the first time in a week, but it wasn't an exciting feeling. I still didn't know what I was going to tell Nick about what happened between Luke and I.

Once I got off the plane I headed to the bag claim, chewing a hole in my lip as I walked. I hoped my gut would help me make the correct choice once I saw Nick. But once I came down the escalator to the bag claim and saw Nick waiting for me at the bottom, it felt like I was suspended in time.

Our eyes locked as I reached the bottom of the escalator and Nick smiled at me widely. It was clear he was excited to see me, quickly heading to meet me. He wrapped me in his arms, holding me tightly in a crushing hug.

"I missed you," he said softly into my hair as he hugged me.

I waited. I waited for the feeling of longing and missing him to come to me but there was none. I felt... empty.

"I missed you too," I said, mustering everything I knew I should feel the best I could. Nick kissed my cheeks before kissing me gently on the lips. The baggage carousel alarm went off momentarily and he released me from his embrace. I forced a smile the best I could as we headed to the carousel to get my bag.

"How are you? How was the flight?" Nick asked as we waited for my bright yellow bag to appear. I shrugged.

"I'm exhausted. I can't wait to sleep in our own bed," I said with a laugh. "The flight was fine though."

"That's good," Nick said. "Did you want to do anything tonight?"

"I'm not sure," I replied. I spotted my bag and moved to grab it but Nick gestured for me to wait and he went to retrieve it. Once he had my bag we walked to the car, holding hands. I hoped Nick wouldn't think anything of my sweaty hands from my nerves.

On the drive home I fell asleep, the jet lag was already hitting me and I hadn't slept well most of the week. Nick gently woke me up when we arrived back at home and carried my bag up to the apartment. I was surprised to find it so clean when he opened the door - Nick wasn't a very tidy person and it looked like it had been freshly cleaned. A beautiful arrangement of flowers sat on the table for me with a small card.

"Thank you," I said sleepily. I hugged Nick tightly and he squeezed me close. I opened the card while Nick took my bag to the bedroom.

Emily,
I know things have been difficult between us, and I'm sorry for how I've behaved. I am going to work on getting better so I can be the husband you married and loved. I would do anything to fix our marriage and I hope you know that. I love you endlessly.
Love,
Nick

I reread his words a few times before I placed the card on the table. Nick came out of the bedroom and I looked up at him. All at once my chest began to ache and my stomach filled with nervous butterflies. All the emotions I should have felt over the past week for Nick came rushing in. I rushed to him and wrapped myself around him as tears spilled over. Nick slowly wrapped his arms around me, surprised at my reaction, and squeezed me tight.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as he kissed the top of my head. My body shook with sobs as the weight of everything in our relationship crushed me. Nick rubbed my back gently, trying to soothe me the best he could.

"I'm sorry too," I managed to squeak out between hiccups.

"Don't apologize," Nick said to me. I wiped my eyes roughly as I pulled myself out of his arms. "We'll fix this."