Page 135 of Ugly Beautiful Scars

That gets a laugh but then the softness somehow triggers more tears. She leans into me, letting me wrap her in a hug. "I'm scared, Sean. I don't like this."

"I know, beautiful. I know." I stroke her hair, feeling the slight trembling of her body against mine. "But we're going to Australia, just like we planned. Two more days. We'll get somewhere safe, regroup, and figure this out."

She nods and I hold her until she stops sniffling. Then she pulls back and says, "I guess, let's light some candles. Then I should get back to packing."

"Sounds like a plan."

Chapter 43

SEAN

IT'S DAY TWO OF PACKING. We're leaving tomorrow and I couldn't be fucking happier about that.

The apartment is starting to look like a war zone: boxes stacked against walls like defensive fortifications, furniture pushed into odd configurations, and donation piles claiming territory in every corner like competing armies. Londyn stands in the middle of it all, her hair messier than usual as she stares at a vase as if it holds the secrets of the universe. Store it? Donate it? Break it against the wall for emotional release? The decisions are clearly wearing on her.

"I don't even remember where I got this," she mutters, turning the blue ceramic vase in her hands. "Is it worth keeping?"

I set a box down on the donation pile. "Only you can answer that. But we've made good progress. Half your stuff is already in storage, and the non-profit is coming tomorrow for the donations." I cross to her and gently take the vase. "Let's take a break and decide the fate of this vase later."

Her shoulders slump. "Really? But we still have so much—"

"Break," I repeat firmly. "You're starting to look at this vase like you want to smash it, and I'm not cleaning up the mess."

That gets a small laugh from her, and I count it as a win. I set the vase in the kitchen and lead her to the couch, the only piece of furniture still in its proper place. She's been scattered all day, jumping between tasks, starting one box only to abandon it for another more pressing concern. Classic overwhelm.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it for now. Londyn needs me here, present, not checking messages. And I bet it's my mom wondering why I'm going to Australia instead of flying to Seoul. I accidentally told her I have a girlfriend, though Londyn and I haven't used official terms yet.Ummahas been blowing up my phone since, demanding picture proof. I'm a bit appalled. I know it's been almost a decade since I had a girlfriend, but where's the trust?

Londyn collapses onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, and I sit next to her. Then she's in my arms and we both take a moment of quiet together. Her hands fist in the back of my shirt, anchoring herself to me. I feel her breathing slow, matching my rhythm until we're breathing as one.

I press my cheek to her hair. "Hey. You're my girlfriend, right?"

I feel the smile in her voice. "Yeah. As long as you're my boyfriend."

A poem from Londyn's book comes back to me, the one that made me think of her the first time I read it.

"Across chasms of space and time, on fragile wings," I say, holding her close and letting her warmth steady me, "starlight travels. And when it reaches us, we see not what is but what was. Starlight memories."

I feel her body go still as she listens.

"Love is a point of light that crosses impossible distances to find us. That burns brightest

when all else has gone dark. That remains eternally. Transformed but never diminished."

Her head tilts up, eyes finding mine, and I fall into the depths of where I now call home.

"We are all made of stardust. Burning briefly against the void. And when we're gone, our light lives on, traveling toward unseen eyes that will look up in wonder, some day."

She kisses me, then gives me the most gorgeous smile to keep in my memories. "How did you know that's my favorite?"

"How did you know it's mine?"

It happens slowly. First, I kiss her temple. Then her fingers are tracing patterns on my chest, her touch light but deliberately teasing. Then I'm kissing her until the energy between us completely shifts and she sighs against my mouth. She climbs over me to straddle my lap.

"We deserve a real break, don't we?" Her voice drops to that sultry tone that immediately sends blood rushing south.

We kiss again. Neither of us can help it because it's just the way we're sitting here, our bodies warming each other in a room that's too cold with dread from the outside world. She's become my reason for breathing, so of course I'm going to kiss her every second I can.

My mouth moves against hers, soft at first, then deeper as she sighs against me. My phone buzzes again in my pocket, but I ignore it as Londyn presses closer, her body a warm curve against mine.

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