Page 144 of From Nowhere

Maren shifts her blue-eyed gaze to me. It’s a soft look and an easy smile, yet it pierces my chest.

Drawing in a long breath, I smile. “Welcome home.”

She doesn’t speak. She doesn’t move.

“Nice to meet you in person,” her dad says, offering his hand. I shake it.

Then her mom smiles and walks right into me for a hug. “Good to see you, Ozzy,” she says, as if we’ve hugged before.

“Come see what’s inside!” Lola leads the way.

Maren’s parents, Jamie, Will, and Fitz step past me into the house with slight nods and smiles. They’re leaving us alone. I don’t know if it’s by plan or by chance.

Foolish words line up on the tip of my tongue because this isn’t a moment for which one can rehearse.

Glad you’re alive.

Thanks for not dying.

I should have known better than to fall in love with you.

I didn’t call you back, because I’ve been busy.

What’s up?

Did you have a good flight?

Maren takes two slow steps toward me and leans forward, resting her good hand and cheek on my chest.

Not one word.

I close my eyes and slide one hand along her back while my other cradles the side of her head.

She’s warm.

She’s slowly breathing.

She’s here.

She’s alive.

“Are you coming inside?” she finally says in a soft voice, taking a step back as I angle my body away from her and pinch the bridge of my nose, but the fucking tears won’t retreat.

“Yeah. Uh, just give me a minute.”

Her fingers brush my other hand as she steps past me to the door. “I’ll give you all the time you need.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat and get it together. My experience with love has been extreme. The bigger the love, the greater the pain. And I don’t know if it’s worth it, because it fucking hurts to love someone this much.

When I reenter the house, Lola shows Maren the cake and the gifts. Maren gives Lola a one-armed hug, and I think she might cryafter reading theWe Love You. But then she lets her gaze drift to other things, all the things I did to her house while she was working and trying to die on me.

The newly remodeled kitchen.

The refinished wood floors.

The fresh paint.

We make eye contact, and she mouths,Thank you.

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