Finding the Missing Piece: Book 2

Chapter Twenty-Two

Katniss POV-

I wake up to an empty bed, at first I'm use to it, then I remember yesterday's happenings.

Startled, I jump up, looking around for Peeta.

I realize that the shower of the hotel room is running and I relax.

Soon, probably late tonight, Peeta and I will be home in District Twelve and that makes me happy.

About ten minutes later, Peeta comes out in sweats and a hoodie.

His hair is a mess and is dripping wet.

He comes and sits on the bed next to me, "Hey."

I smile and look into his bright blue eyes.

"Guess what?" I say happily.

"What?" Peeta asks me.

"Soon we will be back home and we can wake up next to each other every morning."

Peeta looks in my eyes and smiles genuinely, "I look forward to it."

I wonder where we will stay?

"Where will we go when we get back home?" I ask him.

"I don't know. Maybe we can stay with my parents or your mom? Or a hotel. I don't know, Katniss. I haven't gotten that far." He tells me, obviously a little stressed out.

I nod my head, "You know we still havent spoke to my mother since we left."

"I need to apologize when we get back. I can call my Dad later and I'm sure he will let us stay there until we can get back on our feet." Peeta says guiltily.

"She's going to forgive you." I say, confident in my mother.

Peeta nods a little, "I really hope so." He says sadly.

I put my hand on his back, "Can we get on the road?" I ask.

Peeta shakes his head.

"Why not?" I ask with a laugh.

"Katniss, you're wearing nothing but your bra and panties. You have to at least get dressed first." Peeta says with a smirk.

"Maybe, just maybe, I wanted to go out like this!" I say and get up from the soft, warm hotel bed.

Peeta stands up and rolls his eyes at me.

"Katniss, I seriously doubt that. I can barely look at you without you being embarrassed."

"Not anymore. I mean at first it was kind of weird because we did spend so long protecting each other's privacy but it's natural now. I have no problem with you seeing my body and if I remember right, you were more embarrassed than I ever was." I say positively.

Peeta smiles and walks over to me.

He wraps his strong arms around my hips and kisses my temple.

"I love you, Brat."

I sneak a kiss on his cheek.

"I love you too."

Peeta goes over and sits on his side of the bed, "Go get dressed." He orders politely.

"I'm going. I'm going." I say, running into the bathroom with my clothes.

I put little to no effort into my attire and within minutes, I'm ready to leave.

"Let's go!" I say, attacking Peeta in a hug from behind.

We make it to the lobby and check out.

"I'll see you in about 12 hours."

I scoff, "Twelve hours?" I ask.

He nods, "We drove about a quarter of the way yesterday. Twelve more hours, Katniss." Peeta says.

I shrug my shoulders, "I guess, I'll survive." I say in ennui.

Peeta chuckles and pulls me into a hug, warming me from the fall morning breeze.

"You will, I promise. Just think, once we get back to Twelve we can officially start our forever and always." He says in a much better mood than he's been in.

The feeling of Peeta and I's forever and always just warms my whole being.

I give him a shy smile, "I can't wait." I choke out softly.

"Me either. Let's go!" Peeta says excitedly and skips to his car in excitement.

I get into my car and put on my seatbelt.

Before I know it, we are just hours away from District Twelve.