Page 140 of Even Ground
“Have you got ants in your pants?” Josh laughs as I pace the living room.
“What?” I stare at him.
“That’s what you said to me the day I waited for Delaney and Amelia to arrive.”
I drop to the couch. “I’m sorry I teased you. The waiting is driving me crazy.”
“That’s why I’m driving.”
I frown. “You are not coming with me.”
Josh’s smile is so smug, I’m sure my blood pressure takes off. “Do you really think you can keep Delaney from her best friend?”
I drag my hand down my face. “How are we all going to fit in the car?”
“Delaney’s taking her car, and we’ll drive back together, but you can’t deprive her of meeting Pania at the airport.”
Standing, I turn toward him. “She’s my girlfriend. It’s not good for the kids to be there. Do you really want them seeing our reunion?”
“Reece Evans.” Delaney stands in the doorway, her hands on her hips. “Do you really think after all this time that I’m not meeting my bestie at the airport?”
I whimper. “But—”
“Don’t you dare use the children as an excuse. They’ll be just fine. Addison’s only three months old.”
“I wouldn’t cross her if I was you.”
Grumbling, I look at my phone. “It’s time to go anyway.”
“Yes, which is why my children are in the car, and I came back up here to find out what you’re doing.”
We follow her back out. Josh is right. There’s no point in trying to stop Delaney even though I just want to whisk Pania away and do every little dirty thing I’ve thought about these past months. It’s only work that’s kept me away from her, and I look forward to spending the next few weeks together.
There is some part of me that’s glad Josh is driving as I jiggle my right leg, wanting to go faster but unable to speed things up.
“You’re worse than an animal in heat.”
“Now you know what it was like watching you.”
He chuckles. “I’m impressed you two have stuck this out. It’s not easy being apart from the person you love.”
“I just want her with me now, you know? Whether we travel the world or stay in LA, I just want us to be together.”
We pull up to a red light and he looks at me. “I’m sorry if I haven’t been as supportive as I should have been in the past. You’ve really got your shit together, and it’s a beautiful thing.”
I hold up my hand. “Don’t you dare make me cry.”
“You clown.” He reaches over and ruffles my hair.
The light turns green and I draw in a deep breath.
Not long to go.
* * *
Josh grips my shoulders as we wait before giving me a gentle shake. The plane’s landed, and once Pania’s cleared security, she’ll appear at the door I’ve had my eyes on for the past fifteen minutes.
A lump in my throat forms when she appears. I’ve missed her, but really had no idea just how much until she’s right there. My heart soars.