Page 87 of Love Spell

“Don’t change anything,” Noah said quietly.“Timo, you’re wrong.You haven’t been the problem the whole time.You’ve made mistakes, but so have I.If I’d been honest with you before we ever set foot in any attorney’s office, this wouldn’t have happened.We all make mistakes.The truth is, you’ve been changing all along, pushing yourself for my sake, and you’ve just proved that you’re no longer the man I met in July.I’m the one who’s let my whole life be ruled by fear, too scared even to meet you halfway most of the time.I can’t cast a spell and chase away the fear and change who I am overnight.But I can work on it.I can try, especially if I know you’re by my side.”

They stood there, watching one another.Timo’s head was still splitting and the light still stung, but that didn’t seem to matter anymore.He could think of nothing halfway intelligent to say, so he smiled.Noah returned it, though he looked shy, uncertain, as if he thought Timo might turn him down.As if this wasn’t the greatest day of Timo’s life.

Julian studied his own fingernails, then glanced at his watch, drummed his fingers on his chair arm, looked at the ceiling.

Perhaps Timo should do something?

Could he go back to sleep?With Noah there, of course.No, he wasn’t home.

Timo opened his arms.

Noah hurried around the table and leaned into them, hugging Timo in return.

“You’ll really give me another chance?”Timo asked.

“Only if you’ll give me one.”Noah pulled back just enough to kiss him.“I’m sorry I ran out on you when you didn’t mean any harm.”

“I’m sorry I pushed you so fast.Noah —”

“Your nose is bleeding.”

“Shit.”Timo fumbled at his pockets, pinching his nose at the same time.

Julian appeared beside them, wordlessly giving Timo a paper napkin.

Timo pressed it to his nose.“Noah, will you marry me?”His voice was muffled.“And before you answer this time, it’s okay to say no.We can go back and forth, we can take our time, if that’s too much —”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then we’ll figure out how to make it work —”

“No.”Noah rested a hand on Timo’s arm.“I mean, yes, I’ll marry you.I’ll call Anjali back.”

“Oh.”

“But I still have to leave the country for now.I can’t work for you anymore.”

“That’s probably for the best.”Timo rotated the napkin against his nose, his fingers smeared in blood.

“It’s definitely for the best.No way am I marrying my boss.But I can come back as a tourist in November while we wait on paperwork.Or you can visit the States?”Noah cocked his head.“Want to come to Alaska for Thanksgiving with my moms?”

“More than anything.”

Noah laughed and hugged him.Timo held on as tight as he could with one arm, his eyes newly burning and whole body weightless, never wanting to let go, certain now he never had to.

He didn’t think he could get any happier, until he opened his eyes and saw Julian still impatiently there, and Timo smiled at him and said, “Thank you.”

Julian folded his arms across his chest, scowling at the altar, his expression adding to Timo’s euphoria.Somehow, this love spell had turned into another win.

EPILOGUE

Noah bounced on the balls of his feet, looking around dozens of people waiting at JFK’s international arrivals.From limo drivers holding signs to parents with small children watching for relatives, all eyes focused on sliding doors that boldly forbade entrance.

Although Thanksgiving was still a week out, the airport churned like a shopping mall in December.Noah hardly noticed, able to see only those closed doors, or check his phone every ten seconds in case of another text.No update since landing.That was ages ago.Customs, baggage claim, long corridors — it all had to be covered before the London passengers walked through that door.Besides that, US citizens would get through customs much faster than anyone else.Even when the doors did open, Noah would have to wait.

Noah jammed his restless hands in coat pockets.No stuttering, no happy tears, nothing embarrassing here in this chattering throng; they would hug and get home to Noah’s rented room for a night before their flight to Anchorage in the morning.He shouldn’t be this worked up after being apart for less than a month.Why did it feel like years?

The doors opened.Noah shifted from foot to foot.Certain it would be impossible for Timo to be first out, Noah almost didn’t register what he saw.In a long overcoat, pulling his rolling bag that was small enough for a carry-on, shoulders square, blue eyes like searchlights, Timo lacked only a burst of flashbulbs and mics shoved in his face to complete his leading-man image.

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