The Meeting

‘I’ll be there soon. We’ve been away from each other for so long! I’ve really missed you, Babe.’ Was what Colby's message said before we left our respective cities. ‘We’ve set the restaurant and our hotel. I can’t wait to see you again.’

My name is Addison McClear and I was nervous. We had been dating for three years before our jobs took me to a different city. This was the first month I had managed to get off in a year. Of course, we always made time for each other, talking via video calls, texts, and phone, but it was never enough. I missed his touch, his smile, his love. I wanted to be near his warmth and in his arms. But I wanted to chase my dreams and he wanted to support my goals. Soon, I would be able to start my own business and we could continue our relationship normally. Until then, times like this week would be cherished.

As I sat in the restaurant and looked out of the window, I took a deep breath. My hair had grown longer, its blonde locks stopping just above the bottom of my shoulder blades. I had lost weight too since I ended up accidentally skipping meals due to my job, and the low appetite from not seeing him. Colby Baker, my boyfriend, and the kindest man I had ever met. I heard the door open and turned to find him standing there, his eyes wandering over every person there. When our eyes met, a smile graced his features and he practically ran over to my table as I stood.

It has been too long since I felt his warmth, I thought as his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer. The hug was tight, and of two people who had not seen each other in a while. It was there in his arms that I felt relief, satisfaction, and overwhelming happiness. Tears came unbidden to my eyes as Colby held me; his fingers tensing on my back as if he could barely contain the emotions coursing through him at that moment. Right here was where I wanted to remain, despite the number of people that were giving us odd looks.

“Addie, I missed you so much, Baby.” His voice was rough like his emotions were bleeding into it. “God, I really missed you.”

“Me too, Colby,” I replied, hearing my own stuffy sounding voice. “Me too. Please, let me just hug you a little longer. It still doesn’t feel real.”

He tightened his grip, before pulling back to look at me, his hand cupping my cheek. Despite the onlookers, he immediately leaned down to press his lips to mine. A rush of blood filled my cheeks, but with Colby’s lips on mine, I could not bring myself to care. Finally, he pulled back so we could catch our breath and smiled down at me gently. Those blue eyes. I missed those blue eyes so much. This was what I was missing, what I needed in my life to feel normal. I reached up to run my fingers through his short brown hair, before smiling myself and pulling him over to the booth.

“You’ve lost weight, Addie,” Colby said, eyes narrowing as he gazed at me. “Honestly, you look fantastic either way, but I am a bit biased.”

I had spoken the truth and watched as she beamed at me. Addison Michelle had been my girlfriend for three years now, but I loved her now more than ever. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, or so my grandmother liked to say when I was young. Her hair had grown longer on top of the weight loss and she looked positively happy to see me again. I cupped my hand over hers on the table as I gazed at her, doing my best to control the impulse to be alone with her right now. I could feel the desire to be in her presence building over the past four months, so I feel full now that the time is here.

“How’ve you been, Colby?” Addison’s voice was always soft and feminine when she spoke but it seemed to match the happiness on her face. “How is work?”

“I’ve been busy, actually. You know how the shop is. I can barely keep my customers smiling without you there.” I replied, before backpedaling quickly. “But I am managing that just fine. What about you? I know we talk every day, but actually seeing you and hearing your voice in person is completely different!”

“That’s just what I was thinking! I’ve been great! Another eight months of this and I’ll be able to open my own business with the contacts I’ve built up.” She smiled as she talked, her eyes bright with the fire of her dream. “So many great authors go under the radar when it comes to this business. I want to help them succeed.”

Addison loved everything about our language and wanted to help people build up their skills. So, she went to college to get a professional degree in language, and now she works for a publishing firm over four hundred miles away. It was hard to find time to see each other and I do hate being apart from her, but I love to see this expression on her face. So happy and satisfied with what her job is. I ran my thumb along the back of her hand, trying my best to focus on what she said. Unfortunately, I was just so happy to see her, that it was difficult to focus.

“Sorry, I know you love what you do, but I’m just so happy to see you that I got distracted while watching you talk,” I said, smiling when her face brightened. “You’re like the sun. Do I always make you so happy with such simple words?”

“Well, it’s because I love you, Colby.” She replied as the waiter came over to take our orders. “I would like…”

After we gave our orders to the waiter, I continued to focus on her presence. She really was like the sun, always shining at me, regardless of how much time we spent apart. I felt her hand rotate in mine until she stroked the palm of it gently. God, this woman knows how to push my limits. When I was not working, my mind had been filled to the brim with the thoughts of her. Since my job was rather laborious, my hands had grown rough over the years, but she still seemed to enjoy it. I looked at her smile, wanting to engrave this moment in my mind.

A little while later, we walked into our room, only for his arms to fall around me in a hug again, from behind. I leaned back, resting my head on his chest, my mind filling with thoughts of him. It felt like I was home in this hotel far away from either one of our houses. Where his hands held my waist, felt heated and I sighed softly. Just being in the same place as Colby made me feel so at peace. I felt his lips press to the top of my head, then he moved and pulled me over to the bed. As we fell on it, I could not help but release a gasp.

“I just want to hold you. Just like this.” He said, chuckling when he reached over to tickle my side. “You filled my mind with you while we were apart.”

“Haha, don’t tickle me!” I countered trying to shove his hands away. “I feel the same way, Colby. It’s like…if you’re not near…I don’t feel human.”

Instead of replying, he leaned closer and kissed me again. There was so much to our relationship that we were missing. From almost three years of being together constantly to completely being apart for four months, the difference was striking. As we cuddled closer, I relished in time spent with my love and smiled up at him happily. Nothing could replace the feeling I get when I am near him and I never thought I would find love so lasting, so perfect, that we could be apart like we normally are and still be happy.

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