By Chance

Chapter Thirty Eight : By Chance

Summer's POV

My plan period is my favorite. In all of the years prior, I would dread my plan period because I just wanted to do what I loved: teach. Not anymore.

I love this time of day because I can finally stop faking my smile and happiness. I can sit at my desk, pretend to do things, and grieve my breakup with the man I love and be miserable about my living conditions. I'm unable to at home, as Lance watches my every move.

Not being able to speak to Brady for nine days now has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. He had become such a normal beam of joy in my life day in and day out that I began to overlook just how much I appreciated him and everything he does for me.

Without him, I feel so lost. I don't know what to do. I want him back in my life more than I've ever wanted anything. He's mine, and I can't take not spending my days with him.

A knock at my door forces me to quickly wipe the tear that slipped as it opens, the person entering my room making my jaw drop and my heartbeat quicken.

This can't be real. There's no way.

I throw my pen down and stand up, a smile spreading onto my face when I finally comprehend that he's actually here, wearing clothes that tell me he was at work right before he got here.

I completely disregard just how dangerous, life-threatening, and reckless this is. All I want right now is him.

"Brady," I say his name under my breath and run over to him, jumping into his arms and throwing myself around his neck.

He catches my weight with ease and buries his head into my neck, both of us hugging one another like they came back from the dead. Oh how I've missed his amazing hugs.

I can't help but cry tears of joy that he's really here right now in all of his glory. He smells the exact same, feels the exact same, sounds the exact same.

"I'm sorry. I missed you, I had to come here. I would have gone crazy if I didn't," he whispers into my ear with his gentle deep voice.

"How did you know to come now? I've been on lockdown."

He pulls away and holds his face close to mine. "Elle."

I smile, relieved she was able to talk to Brady. When I called, I was so scared she wouldn't answer and my only chance of reaching her would be ruined, but she did.

And now he's right here. With me.

Nothing's ever felt so right.

He grabs my face and pulls my lips to his, kissing me hard and with long awaited passion. I run my hands through his hair, missing the feeling of just how soft and curly it is.

"I love you so much," he says right when he breaks the kiss.

"I love you so much," I respond, embracing him once again.

When he finally ends the hug, I feel his eyes searching my entire body. "Are you okay? He hasn't hurt you, right? If he has you'll tell me, won't you?"

I shake my head, resting my hands on his hard, wide chest. His heart is beating so fast. My touch calms him down as he leans into my hands, taking a deep breath.

"I'm fine. He hasn't hurt me," I assure him.

He reaches up and places his hands on mine, taking them off of him to hold them, despite the cast covering the one on my right.

"Thank God," he closes his eyes, kissing my forehead before resting ours together. "Babe, we have to come up with a plan to get you away from him." My heart skips at the nickname he's never called me before. I love it. I could hear him call me that for hours.