entire drive over to Miles' apartment trying to phone him. But every single time I press the call button, his cell will ring a few times before going straight to voicemail.

"Hey, this is Miles. I can't come to the phone right now–" I disconnect the call before the beep sounds, indicating the caller to leave a message. Slamming my hand on the steering wheel, I feel frustrated with the fact that he either has his phone deep in his bag, he is screening my calls, or he is already on the plane to God knows where.

I hope it's between the first two scenarios and not the latter.

Pulling into the front of his building, I quickly double-park, hopping out of the vehicle in one solid movement. I don't even glance back, my feet carrying me towards the entrance. I silently pray that I don't see a ticket on the car when I come back out. Even though I might have a little right to force Talia to pay for it with everything that had happened, I have a feeling she'll still curse me to the heavens.

My feet skid across the floor as I run down the hallway, managing to stop myself right in front of his door. Banging my fist against it, I wait impatiently for someone to open it, hoping that someone will be Miles.

The sound of locks being turned makes my ears perk up, and I hold my breath as the door slowly opens.

"Evie?"

My chest deflates when Nick's face comes into view. He looks surprised to me, his eyebrows practically shooting up to his hairline. I smile anyway, trying to take a peek into the apartment from over his shoulder.

"Hi, is Miles here?" When Nick shakes his head, I feel my entire demeanor change. I part my lips, wracking my brain for something to say, but honestly, I'd been putting all my trust into him still being at his apartment.

Nick senses my distraught attitude, stepping aside as he shoots me a sympathetic smile. "Come in."

I step further into the apartment, biting hard on my lower lip so I don't burst into tears in the middle of their living room. Monica and Wesley are sprawled out on the couch, the television paused in what looks like a rather intense action scene. I look towards the side, noticing the way Miles' door is slightly open a crack, and I fight down the urge to walk over to it, to walk into the room that had started my relationship with him.

"Hey, Evie. What's going on?" Monica asks, forcing my gaze away from his door.

I let out a shaky breath. "I made a mistake, and I was hoping that I wasn't too late to fix it."

Monica jumps up from the couch, her expression one of complete sadness as she walks over to me, engulfing me in a hug.

"I know, Miles told us everything." I feel myself sink into her embrace even more. I'm surprised that they are all being so kind when I've caused so much heartbreak for Miles. Pulling away from Monica, I swipe at my eyes, trying to get rid of any lingering tears that may have fallen.

"I just—I don't understand, why would he leave all of a sudden?"

From the corner of my eye, I watch Monica, Nick, and Wesley exchange uneasy glances. Before I can question it though, Nick begins speaking.

"He went to Los Angeles to meet with Republic Records and talk about his contract."

With everything that had happened, I'd completely forgotten that Miles has been signed to a record label. I feel my shoulders deflate even more. A moment that he'd wanted to share with me, and I'd ruined it.

"When is he coming back?" I ask them.

This time, Wesley is the one shooting me sympathetic looks. "We don't know."

"You don't know?" I repeat in disbelief.

"All he said was that he'd be back at some point to get the rest of his stuff," Monica interjects.

"Oh my God," I whisper, realization finally seeping in. "He's moving there, isn't he?"

The silence that follows is deafening. And it's all the answer that I need. If it wasn't for Monica's tight grip on my arm, I'm sure my legs would've given out or something. I just feel extremely weak. All of the adrenaline that I'd stored on my way over, the anticipation building inside of me at the thought of Miles being here—it's all gone. And now, I just feel empty and hollow.

Suddenly, Wesley shoots up from his position on the couch, running into his room. We all hear him rummaging around, a slew of curses leaving his lips before he emerges again, a piece of paper in his hand.

He walks over to me, the paper extended towards my fingers.

"It has all of his flight information on it," Wesley explains. "His plane should be taking off at five." I glance at the clock, the time showing I still have an hour before he is supposed to be in the air.

Glancing back at Wesley, I'm pretty sure my expression is one of astonishment.

Wesley smiles, taking my hand and dropping the paper with all of the information I need to reach Miles in my palm. I stare at it for a moment, feeling a new burst of hope in my chest.

"Thank you," I say softly, looking up at all three of them.

Nick shrugs. "You deserve a chance to make it right. Besides, before you, I'd never seen Miles as happy as he was."

Wesley nods. "And we've known him for a long time." I feel frozen, even though I should be running out of the door with the little time I have left. Monica senses my hesitation though, giving me a slight push towards the door.

Glancing back, my hand hovering over the doorknob, I am met with equal looks of encouragement.

"Go on, go win your dude back."

• • •

Pulling into the departure gate at JFK airport, I feel breathless. My foot hasn't left the gas pedal since leaving Miles's apartment, and I'm sure I've broken all speed limits on the freeway, though I simply don't care.

Cutting the engine off, I quickly exit the car, memorizing the flight information in case he's already made it through security. Even though I'm hoping he hasn't, since people without boarding passes aren't allowed past that checkpoint.

Running onto the sidewalk, I narrowly avoid colliding with a man wheeling an entire cart full of suitcases, shooting him an apologetic smile when he turns back to glare at me.

"Miss! Excuse me! Miss!"

Turning to look over my shoulder, I spot an airport traffic officer waving his hands at me from his spot next to Talia's car.

"You cannot park your vehicle here!" he yells at me. I blanch, quickly looking at my watch. I don't have enough time to drive around the parking garage looking for a spot and run back over here. Judging by the way the traffic officer is shouting at me though, I know he is most likely not going to be very understanding.

"I'm sorry," I say quickly, backing up slowly. "I'll only be a few minutes." Without waiting for a reply, I turn, sprinting through the automatic doors for the Delta terminal. I can hear the officer shouting from behind me, but I don't care, looking around at all the signs. According to Nick, he'd left about thirty minutes before I'd shown up at their apartment, meaning he is probably still checking in his bags.

Walking briskly through the throngs of people, I keep my eyes peeled for Miles' silhouette, or what I hope would be his silhouette.

Stopping in my tracks, I pull my phone from my pocket again, looking at the time. Just as I bring my gaze back up, it's then that I see him.

Miles is standing by the baggage scale, lifting his suitcases onto the device before glancing down at their weight that is flashing on the screen. He hasn't noticed me yet, but my mouth goes dry at the sight of him. Suddenly, all of the nerves that I had felt earlier seem to come right back as I take tentative steps toward him.

It isn't until I'm about five steps away that I feel a hand roughly grab my arm, spinning me around to face them. It's the traffic officer from outside, his face red with anger as he regards me.

"I told you to move your car, lady," he snaps loudly, causing some people to look our way. I swallow, feeling small under his harsh gaze.

"I know and I'm–" He cuts me off, hooking his fingers under my elbow and beginning to drag me back in the direction of where the car is idly waiting.

"I don't care," he hisses, spit flying out of his mouth and landing on my cheek. "Those are the rules, and you can't just run in here and not abide by them."

"Excuse me? What's going on?"

The gruff voice locks my feet into place as the traffic officer stumbles from my sudden halt. I look up, my heart picking up in speed when I notice Miles staring intently down at the officer and me.

"This young lady needs to move her car, right now," the officer answers, pulling at me slightly to get me to move.

"Listen, I'll move it. I just need a few minutes to talk to him," I say, practically begging at this point. Luckily, the officer huffs, releasing my arm in one quick movement.

"Move it, or don't. I'm calling the damn tow truck if you're not out in five minutes."

I sigh in relief as he shoots me one last look before turning and walking off, leaving Miles and me alone. It takes a lot of courage for me to turn, already finding Miles' green eyes locked on my face. I'm sure I look like a sweaty mess, curls sticking to my forehead from the sprint I'd done over here, but I don't care.

There is a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, before it vanishes, leaving a blank look in its place. I nervously shuffle my feet, realizing he isn't going to make this easy for me.

"What are you doing here, Evie?" My heart stutters. Finally being able to hear his voice after so long immediately sends goosebumps flying down my arm.

"Nick and Wesley told me you were leaving, and I need to say this to you before you go," I say shakily. Miles doesn't respond, looking at me as if to say okay, well go on.

I take in another shaky breath, wringing my hands together. "I'm so sorry. I know I fucked up by kissing Sebastian and I just want you to know that it didn't mean a damn thing. I don't know why I kissed him, okay? I just—I was being an idiot, and I'm sorry."

Miles nods slowly, looking at something over my shoulder before his eyes move back to my face. "I wasn't angry that you kissed him, I was angry that you were somehow letting him back into your life after everything he did."

"I wasn't," I plead. "I don't want to be with Sebastian. Not after spending the last two months with you. Not after all the moments we've shared, the laughs, the picnics, the painting classes. You meeting my family, and being there for me after the entire volcano that erupted at Thanksgiving. Not after you let me in, telling me about your brother. Not after feeling things I never felt with Sebastian. Not after you showed me that I can be this person—a woman who fights for what she believes in. And I believe in this, in us. I believe in starting again, in loving again, and I want to do all of that with you, not with him."

My chest is heaving after delivering my speech. Miles is silent, and it scares me that I can't tell what he is thinking. His face is as blank as a whiteboard.

After a moment though, his lips twitch. "It took me almost leaving for you to come say all of that to me?"

Nodding sheepishly, I become hyper-aware of the small step Miles takes toward me, completely invading my space.

"Well, I have something to say to you too," he says softly. "I guess I was hurt that after everything you went through with not only me but with Sebastian—that you were somehow still going to pick him." My gaze softens at his revelation, and I feel the sudden urge to touch him, to somehow reassure him that I am never going to pick Sebastian over him. "It was mostly a pride thing. I had done so much to try and help you get over him, to fix what he'd broken, only for him to come back and take all of the credit somehow." Miles shakes his head, almost like he is trying to rid of the thoughts that are plaguing him.

"From the moment I saw you in that bar, I knew you were going to change my life. I didn't know how, but I knew it. And then I started spending more time with you—and I started seeing who Evie Porter actually was, and I realized I liked all of you. I liked your mind. I liked the way you were willing to stand up for what you believed in. You said that I showed you how to be the person you are right now, but I think you're wrong. I think you were the one to show me what I could do—who I could become."

He takes another small step toward me, lifting his hand and brushing his fingers against my face. I feel my eyes flutter shut at the contact, my body subconsciously leaning into his touch.

"I'm in love with you, Evie."

My entire body stiffens as Miles speaks the words against my skin. My eyes fly open to see him pulling away, his lips pulled back into a genuine smile. Blinking a few times, I find myself at a loss for words. It has only been two months, but also there is no time limit for love, and Miles loves me. He loves me, he loves everything about me, and I find myself grinning. I feel this sense of happiness growing inside of me because someone like Miles found something in me to love.

With tears clouding my vision, I feel my heart constrict in my chest. "Miles, I don't know what to say. I can't–"

Miles shakes his head. "I didn't say it with the expectation for you to say it back, Eves. I said it because I've been in love with you since I kissed you in my room on Thanksgiving. You being here, right now, is enough for me. I will wait however long it takes for you to say it back, don't worry."

The tears cascade down my face in a light stream and Miles chuckles, bringing his thumb up to wipe them away. Without thinking about it anymore, I tangle my fingers in his curls, bringing his face down to mine. His lips feel soft and familiar. Kissing him feels like I am finally at home again. His lips mold against mine, his fingers digging at my waist as he presses himself against me. Nipping at my bottom lip, I gasp slightly, giving his tongue entrance. The kiss is hunger and passion. It's our way of apologizing for the mess we've created. It's our way of forgiving.

Pulling away, I feel breathless. I'm acutely aware that we are standing in the middle of a crowded airport, except I'm not all that bothered with it.

"I missed you," I mumble against Miles' lips. His fingers tighten around my waist, and I honestly can't imagine letting him go.

"I missed you more."