REJOIN | ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Three

A general shape is all I saw walking through the door but I knew it was him. I felt it. The room suddenly thrummed with energy and I knew.

I ran to him. I didn't even tell my brain to do it, I was just suddenly moving towards him like metal to magnets, unable to stop even if I'd wanted to. I didn't want to.

Throwing myself into his arms, tears swallowed me whole. I couldn't see his face and I cursed my tear ducts for that. Instead I used my hands; I touched every inch of him, reminding myself of his every contour.

His hair was still slightly damp from the shower, the neck of his t-shirt soaked. He'd obviously rushed to get here and I laughed tearfully against his chest, grateful for the hurry. I drank in his scent, the familiar smell soothing me like nothing else could. I didn't know how or when it happened, but suddenly my lips were on his and we were kissing. He had one of his hands in my hair and the other was doing some exploring of its own.

Coming up for air, I hiccupped a sob, slapping my hands against his chest. I had so many things I wanted to say but nothing would come out. How could he do that to me? What was he thinking? As if any of it had even been his doing. But the DNR was.

We hadn't even said a word but everything felt right again. I felt safe and warm and I didn't want to ruin that. I was where I belonged.

I took his hands in my own and took a half step back; the tears finally having cleared enough so that I could see his face once more. It was the same but... different somehow. Some of the fine lines on his forehead were less distinct and he'd lost the majority of his dark tan.

He had tear tracks of his own. His eyes raked me over and I could tell he was looking for signs of harm. He appraised my knuckles but didn't comment, clearly cataloguing that one for later.

A realisation almost buckled my knees from under me.

We had a later.

Remy's eyes returned to my face and he smiled his crooked smile at me. I raised our still-clasped hands to gently stroke his cheek where it dimpled, before wiping away the remnants of his tears.

"Marry me," I said, finally finding my voice. The huskily spoken words surprised both of us, but his face split into a grin, a smile so bright it ripped away every last shred of darkness.

He was here, my own personal burst of sun, and nothing else mattered. The grief I'd felt heavy in my chest until then seemed like a distant memory.

"I'll have to check my schedule, but I think I can fit you in," Remy said, speaking at last, trying his best to keep a straight face. It was so good to hear his voice.

I laughed and pushed his shoulder before settling my head into his chest again with a sigh. I was home again.

After the tears had subsided, my eyes snapped open again as I remembered we had an audience. His uncle and brother had both risen to their feet but they stood awkwardly, trying to look anywhere but at Remy and I. I'd completely forgotten they were even there.

Hey Siri, how do you open a sinkhole in the ground and get it to swallow you whole?

Olivier cleared his throat as I pulled myself to a more socially acceptable distance away from Remy. "I guess congratulations are in order," he said, offering a hand to his newly regenerated, and apparently engaged, nephew.

Olivier was speaking English for my benefit and I smiled at him in thanks. His eyes had reddened around the edges, a glassy mist of tears appearing along his lower lashes.

Remy ignored the extended hand and instead pulled his uncle into a bear hug. The height difference made it look a little awkward but neither of them seemed to mind.