Unexpected

25

EMMA POV

My heart did flips with I saw his messy brown hair and dimpled smile. My confusion was quickly replaced with excitement. I pulled him into a tight hug before things could get awkward.

"How are you? What are you doing in New York? How did you find me?" My mind was going a thousand miles a minute. I was tired of fighting fate, we had been apart for far too long. My body welcomed his familiar warmth and scent.

"James told me you had left and I kinda hopped on the first flight I could find." He said sheepishly. His cheeks were flushed with embarrassment from his impulsive gesture. "Rebecca told me where I could find you."

Rebecca, of course. She wasn't shy about her love for Ethan. She had scolded me repeatedly for throwing my relationship away over his indiscretions. She had assured me a guy like him was hard to come by and he didn't deserve to be ostracized over the actions of a jealous ex lover. I had heard her words wholeheartedly, but I was too hurt to act upon them.

Maybe this new city was a fresh start. I knew I was getting ahead of myself, but seeing him again brought back so many suppressed emotions. My heart had finally healed, this could be an opportunity to rekindle an old flame.

"I'm so glad you're here." I gave him a playful smile, taking in his appearance again. His charms still made my heart flutter.

"Really?" He sounded surprised. "I wasn't sure if you'd shut the door in my face."

"I was just about to head out for dinner and a little exploring. Do you wanna join me?" I changed the subject quickly. I didn't want to dwell on the past. Yes, the old Emma would have slammed the door in his face and cried herself to sleep, but this was a new Emma and a new city. I was ready to move forward and forgive him.

"I would love that."

"Great!" I clapped my hands together excitedly. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much, but I welcomed the pain. I hadn't smiled this much in a long time and I was glad Ethan was the cause for it. "Did you want to grab anything from your hotel before we go?"

"About that...I kinda came here with the clothes on my back and a few things I bought on the way. I was gonna find something while I was here, I didn't exactly plan ahead." He said, gesturing to his backpack.

"Nonsense. You can stay with me, I have a guest room. If you hadn't noticed I'm kinda a big deal on YouTube now, I have guest rooms and office space and shit." He burst out laughing at my stupid joke, the sound warming every inch of my body.

—
ETHAN POV

We headed to the Italian place around the block from Emma's apartment. Everything was falling into place more perfectly than I could have dreamed. She looked even more beautiful than I'd remembered, something I thought wasn't humanly possible.

She spoke about her career and her parents, waving her hands in excitement. Her channel had boomed and she was getting brand deals left and right. Her father had opened his third gallery and her mother was excelling in her job as well. I watched her with intent as she spoke. Memorizing the slope of her nose and the crinkle in her eyes. I etched every detail in my brain, not knowing how much time I had with her or when I'd see her next.

Initially I had planned on begging her to move home, but seeing her this happy I knew there was no way I could do that to her. She belonged here even if it was without me.

We settled into the hole in the wall restaurant and ordered more food than we could stomach. The energy between us was electric, it felt like our first date all over again.

"I might be pushing my luck, but I have to say you look beautiful tonight." I gave her a smile and quickly looked down, feeling embarrassed of my confession.

"You haven't lost your ability to make me blush like a tomato." She brought her hand up to her face, giggling behind it. Her laughter was a sound I never wanted to go a year without hearing again.

"You changed your hair, it looks really good." I said, gesturing to the curl of blonde peeking out under her beanie.

"Yeah I did, I felt like I needed a change." She shrugged. She acted nonchalantly, like she didn't know she was breathtakingly beautiful.

As we spoke and dined, I continued memorizing her features. I noted every freckle, the curve of her jawline, the way her collarbone popped through her sweater. I noticed things I had glazed over in the past, like the small chip on her bottom tooth or the way she hid behind her hands when she laughed.

By the end of the dinner, we had stripped down  from our jackets, hats, and scarves, both our faces red from too much wine and the heat of the candles. Her faced glowed against the candlelight and I found myself once again reminiscing to our first date.

"You know, I meant what I said the last time we spoke." I said, reaching across the table and gently placing her hand in mine. I let her hand lazily graze mine, afraid that if I gripped it too tightly she would retract from fear of commitment. I worried I would spoil our perfect evening, but the words escaped me before I could swallow them back down.

"Don't." She shook her head, the smile leaving her face. She didn't pull away from me, but I knew I was flirting with a dangerous topic.

"Emma-"

"Don't say those next few words unless you wholeheartedly mean them." She said quietly, watching me with intent. "If you say them without truly meaning them, I won't survive it this time." She brought her glass up to her mouth taking a big gulp. I followed her lead, needing a push of confidence.

Of course I meant the words that were dangerously close to slipping off my tongue, but her warning nearly made me lose my nerve. I didn't fear telling her because I didn't mean it, I feared that I would fail at living up to being the man she deserved.

I tightened the grip on her hand and brought it up to my mouth, letting my lips graze her finger tips. She watched me with glossy eyes, her mouth puckering into a small o.

"I love you Emma. I loved you then and I never stopped. You don't have to say it ba-"

"I love you Ethan, so much it nearly destroyed me. But, I'm strong enough now. I promise I wouldn't run away." She spoke through teary eyes, a few stray tears falling down her cheeks. She looked so vulnerable in this moment and I loved her even more for it.

I leaned over the table taking her face in my hands and kissing her like our lives depended on it. I didn't care if we got rude looks from the older couples sitting around us. They could watch us in disgust if they pleased. The only thing I cared about in that moment was her lips on mine.