Page 38 of When Forever Comes

Silence stretches.

“It’d be too hard,” she answers. “I get it now but… You took the best parts of me when you left.” Tears roll down her cheeks. “I wanted to forget about it. I wanted to forget about you. But that day… in the hallway. My back pressed against the lockers, your mouth on mine, the passion in your kiss. The way my lips tingled long after you walked away… I’d never be able to forget you.”

Despite the seriousness of this moment, I smirk. “That was the point.”

She shakes her head and bites her lip. I reach forward and gently pull her into my arms.

Without overthinking it, I lean forward and claim her lips like I’ve dreamt of doing for the last ten years. No woman has ever come close to Olivia in my eyes. Not their beauty, not their kindness, not their anything. Because if I’ve learned anything through these trials, it’s that God has a plan in everything. Even when we make mistakes, stumble, or fall. When we’re at our weakest, He pulls through and reveals His strength. He had to be my strength when she left. Leaving her ten years ago was hard enough, but having her leave me without a goodbye was excruciating.

I pour all my promises into the kiss, allowing it to soothe the marks she left on my heart. Allowing it to carve out my regrets and everything that’s tarnished our relationship. She kisses me back with fervor, filling the empty spaces and healing the parts of me she broke when she left. As she presses herself into me, I’m reminded of how perfectly she fits me. Not just physically, but emotionally.

I pull back and allow us both a moment to breathe.

“I love you, Olivia Swann. I’ve loved you for a long time, and I’ve prayed for you twice as long. You started off as my best friend and there’s no doubt in my mind that God made you for me and had His hand in this all along. Even in the separations.”

There’s another ding as the elevator doors open and Dana peeks her head out. Olivia takes a step away from me.

“I was a part of this too!” Dana says. “I helped be a bridge with both separations. So you can thank me now.”

“You’ve kept yourself shut in there?” I ask.

“I knew you and Olivia needed a moment of privacy, but it gets stuffy in there.” Dana fans herself.

“You’re right, I never thanked you. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know if this ever would have worked. So, thank you.”

Dana beams at me. “It was my pleasure.”

* * *

The three of us cook dinner together and eat out on the patio. We talk and laugh as if no time or distance has ever come between us.

Olivia’s phone rings and when she glances at the screen, she winces.

“Who is it?” Dana asks, looking over the table at it.

“Dad.” Olivia glances up at me. “It’s a FaceTime call.”

My spine stiffens. I stand and pick up our dishes, depositing them on the counter to wash later. When I step back onto the porch, Olivia and Dana have their faces squished together to both fit on the screen.

I cross my arms and lean against the doorway, amused by how these two sisters could be so similar yet so different.

Without warning, they turn the phone on me.

I stand at attention the moment my eyes collide with Mr. Swann’s.

I cough, feeling every part the awkward teenager I was when I left Emerald Springs after receiving Mr. Swann’s letter.

“Hello, Mr. Swann.”

“West, it’s good to see you. I hope your mother and father are well.” The formality of his tone does nothing to help my nerves.

“They are. Traveling through Spain right now.”

“Good, good.” Mr. Swann nods, his usual confidence appearing to fade. “Listen, I wanted to apologize for the confusion about the fire.” His mustache twitches. “Liv told me you received a letter from the station with my signature.”

“And the mayor’s seal!” Dana pipes in.

“It wasn’t from me. I don’t make deals like that. That’s not how those cases work.”

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