He wrapped his delicate hands around the warm mug of his favorite tea and brought it to his lips for a cautious sip. The bitter chill of the Winter air permeated the hotel window he stood next to as he gazed out over the cityscape watching the heavy rainfall.
He loved the rain because it made him think of his girl and their third date. They were out for a hike in Malibu when a storm appeared out of nowhere and it started pouring rain. A smile crept onto his lips as the memory flowed through him. A lot of women he had known would have screamed in annoyance and ran for cover. But not her, not his girl.
Her scream was one of delight and he watched in awe as she started twirling, arms in the air dancing like no one was watching. That's the day he knew he was in love with her.
Three incredible years have gone by and he fell harder for her with each rotation of the sun. Trials and tribulations overcome hand in hand. He would walk through fire for her and she for him.
However, today he hated the rain and the ache that lovely memory caused in his chest. Hated it because the love of his life was halfway across the globe in California with the other great love of his life, their son.
He thought about how she always says how happy she is that he looks just like him, but he sees only her characteristics when he looks at him.
Shaking the sad thoughts away, he was thankful he would have both of them in his arms in approximately sixteen hours.
He glanced at the time wanting to hear her voice, but knew she would be fast asleep so he composed a text instead.
"I miss you so much, sweetheart. I'm off to the airport, my phone will probably be off by the time you read this. I can't wait to hold you tonight. I love you."
Suitcase packed and final sweep of his room completed, he pulled his luggage behind him down the hallway. The rest of the group had already gathered in the hotel lobby sprawled across couches and chairs as they sipped warm beverages and chatted quietly.
"I've confirmed the van, it will be here any second." Chirped his assistant.
"Thank you, I'm going to wait by the door." he replied while he pulled his hoodie over his head.
The drive to the airport was quicker than he had expected with the dreary weather. All checked in for their flight, the gang huddled together near the gate.
To pass the time he checked and returned emails, updated his Instagram with another tease of cutting his enormous beard, chuckling at some of the responses.
Finally up in the air, he opened his laptop and hoped work would distract him until he was ready to sleep. As soon as the screen came to life he smiled as the photo from the night he proposed displayed on the screen. He reached out and traced his fingers along her face. 'I can't wait to marry you.' He thought.
The pilot's voice gurgled over the sound system welcoming them to LAX. The passengers started to disperse isle by isle. He jogged through the airport, into the black SUV waiting on him and his team.
He sat in the backseat fidgeting, willing the tires to turn faster over the asphalt. "We're almost there, chill out, Bossman." His assistant teased.
He chuckled, then said, "I knew three months away would be hard, but this has been fucking brutal. I miss them with every fiber of my being." His assistant smiled back at him before looking out the window.
His hand was on the door handle before the SUV had come to a complete stop. He ran around the back of the vehicle, punched in the code to his gate and bolted to the front door.
While he aggressively fumbled with his keys a growl escaped him when they fell to the ground. He swooped to pick them up just as the door swung open.
He stood up and she leaped into his arms. Her legs wrapped around his waist as his lips crashed into hers. The kiss faded from ardent to gentle as her hands drifted from his face to his neck.
He placed a kiss on her forehead before he nuzzled into her neck and inhaled her shampoo.
"I missed you so much, baby girl." He said with a sigh.
She pulled his face from her neck and gently rubbed the vein that bulged below his left eye. Gazing into his big ocean eyes, she said, "I missed you more, Jared."
They stared at each other under the mid-afternoon sunshine as tears flowed down her cheeks he smiled. Once again, he loved the rain.
