I’m standing at the airport, waiting for Luna to come out. I can’t seem to stop pacing, even though I’ve been here for what feels like hours.

The butterflies in my stomach keep flipping, and I know it’s not just because she’s been gone all summer. It’s because I haven’t seen her in person for so long, and all these emotions have been building up.

I hear the announcement over the loudspeaker, and suddenly, I spot her.

Luna steps out from the gate, and for a second, I’m frozen. She’s wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders, but it’s not the clothes that stop me. It’s her.

She looks so... different. More grown-up somehow, more beautiful, like the summer has shaped her into something even more amazing than before.

We’ve been FaceTiming and texting all summer, and I thought I’d gotten used to seeing her face on a screen. But standing here, in front of me, with the smell of the airport and the buzz of people moving around us, everything feels different.

She feels different.

I can’t wait any longer. I rush toward her, my heart pounding, and the moment I reach her, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a hug so tight that it’s almost like I never want to let go.

It feels so right, holding her again. I bury my face in her hair, and for a few seconds, I just stand there, breathing her in.

“I missed you,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, because the words feel so big right now.

She pulls back slightly, looking up at me with a smile that melts everything in me.

“I missed you too.” Her eyes are still the same, but there’s this softness to them, this new layer to the way she looks at me that makes my heart skip.

We start walking toward the car, and I can’t stop glancing at her, taking in every little detail. The way she walks with more confidence, the way her smile lights up everything around her.

I didn’t realize how much I’d missed her until she was right here, with me again. I want to kiss her, so badly, but I don’t. Not yet.

When we get to the car, I drive us home, my mind racing a million miles a minute.

I’m so excited to have her back, but there’s this part of me that’s holding back, trying to be patient because I know the moment we get home, it’s not just going to be the two of us.

We pull into the driveway, and I notice the lights are on inside. I swallow, I know her Mom is throwing her a welcome home party.

I’m happy for her, but a little bit bummed too. I want Luna all to myself.

The door opens, and Mia is the first one to tackle her, followed by a swarm of our friends. I step back, smiling, trying not to look too obvious as I watch Luna laugh and catch up with everyone.

I can tell she’s happy to be home, but there’s this pull between us that’s hard to ignore when she glances my way and smiles.

I want to just grab her and take her away from all this, but I know we’ll have time for that later. I just need to be patient. But I'm failing.

After what feels like forever, the party starts winding down. People are starting to say their goodbyes, and I can feel Luna’s energy shifting. She’s tired, needs all the rest she cane get, and I’m pretty sure she’s ready to leave. Me too.

“I think we should go,” I say, tugging at her hand, a little impatient now. “I’ve missed you too much to share you with everyone else now.”

She laughs, rolling her eyes, but there’s that same playful energy in her smile. “Where are we going?”

“My place.”

“Mom--”

“She will have you all to herself tomorrow. Tonight you're mine.”

She giggles as we slip out of the house unnoticed, and I drive us back to my place. Dad’s out of town for the week, and that means the house is all mine. Just mine and Luna’s.

When we step inside, I can feel the electricity in the air between us. The house is quiet, the only sound being the hum of the fridge. It feels like it’s waiting. Waiting for me to make my move.

Before I even think about it, I grab Luna by the waist and pull her close, kissing her before I’ve even think about closing the door.

My hands find her face, threading through her hair as she responds instantly, melting into me.

I’ve missed her so much, it feels like I’m not breathing right without her. There’s no space between us, just a rush of warmth and need. Her lips taste like the summer air, like all the time we’ve spent apart but never really separated.

When we break away, I rest my forehead against hers, both of us breathless.

“I needed that,” I say, my voice rough.

Luna smiles, her eyes sparkling with that same intensity I’ve missed. “Yeah, me too.”

I don’t know how long we stand there, just holding each other, but eventually, we move into the living room, where the lights are dim, and the world feels just a little more ours. I take her hand, pulling her down onto the couch beside me.

“I can’t believe you’re really here,” I say quietly, my thumb tracing circles on her wrist. “I’ve missed you more than I realized.”

“I missed you too,” she says, leaning her head on my shoulder. “I think I’ll never stop missing you.”

And that’s when it hits me—this is it. We’ve made it. The distance didn’t break us. The time apart didn’t change how I feel about her. And even though everything else in the world has changed, I know one thing for sure.

Luna is exactly where she’s supposed to be. And so am I.

"Are you just going to sit there or are you going to fuck me into sleeping?"

My jaw drops at the boldness but I love it.