She boarded the plane when her row was called and settled into her window seat thinking about possible destinations to travel to next. She had always wanted to go to Iceland. She could visit the ice lagoons and take a dip in a thermal spa, then eat fermented shark and take a shot of Brennivín… Okay, maybe not the fermented shark part—that sounded disgusting—but, hey, this was Val 2.0, who knew what she was capable of?

Her flight home was during the daytime, so Val busied herself with reading and watching a movie on the seatback screen. She wanted to get back on US time as quickly as possible, even though her body was getting tired. The hours passed easily, and, before she knew it, the flight landed at Dulles. With no bags checked from Rwanda, Val breezed through customs and headed to her car. Once she got in the familiar driver’s seat, she had a thought.

She turned on her phone for the first time since she left Rwanda. She had lots of emails and several text messages, mostly from Bri and the girls. She skipped by those, knowing exactly who she wanted to text first.

Jared, I’m back! I’ve been thinking about you. Want to get a quick dinner?

His text came back quickly.

Yes. I would love to get dinner. When?

I’m just now leaving the airport. Let me head home and get changed, and we can get something easy. Want to meet at my place in an hour?

Sounds like a plan. See you then.

Val smiled. It was nice to have someone to come home to. Someone who always seemed to be available for her. Someone who was excited to see her. She started the car and drove home, flipping radio stations the whole way.

When she got to her apartment, she noticed Jared’s familiar car was already parked in the parking lot. He must have left as soon as I texted to make it here this fast, she thought. As she walked toward the building, she saw him sitting on the bench by the pathway. He stood up as soon as he saw her, and his face lit up with a smile. He was dressed in a typical Jared outfit, jeans with a button down. He always looked presentable, even when he was casual. She walked into his arms, and he enveloped her in his trademark hug. He leaned down and placed a kiss on top of her head.

“I’m glad to see you,” he said. “How was the trip?”

“It was amazing,” Val responded. “So worth going and seeing all the projects. Rwanda is a fantastic country: warm people, beautiful scenery, delicious food. I can tell you all about it over dinner.” She turned to head into the building.

Jared held her arm. “Val, did you have a chance to think about us? All this time you were gone, all I could think of was you. Where you were, what you were doing. I wanted to be there with you, having adventures with you.”

Val stood still. She thought about what Jane had described in dating Charles. She flashed back to what Charles had said about not figuring everything out. She remembered closing the door on the chapter with Adam. She knew relationships were about taking chances. Was she ready to take this chance?

She looked up at Jared. His warm eyes were full of emotion. His feelings were practically written across his face. “Yes,” she said.

“Yes, you thought about us or yes, you want to give me another chance?”

“Yes, I think we should give it another shot.”

He closed the distance between them and lifted her in an embrace as she dropped her backpack. He set her down on the sidewalk and kissed her. He kissed her as if with all the feelings he had been holding back, all the impatience that was building as he waited for her.

Val returned the emotion. She reached up around his neck and kissed him as if he held all the answers. Their tongues danced in a familiar way as she remembered what it was like to be with him. Jared was home. This kiss felt right, felt like where she needed to be.

Jared picked up her backpack and held her hand as they walked into her building. He couldn’t hide his smile.

Once she opened her door, he followed her in and shut the door behind them. He carefully put her backpack on the ground and looked at her. She turned and looked back at him. His look was one that heated her blood. She could see that he wanted her, all of her, and he wasn’t going to let her go again. She stood still as he came to her, ran his fingers through her hair and claimed her mouth again. She moaned against him.

Jared was tall and strong. He was at least a head taller than she was. His warm brown hair was kept short but not fussed over. He was an athlete for many years and still worked out. He wasn’t ripped like those gym rats, but he had more than enough strength to pick her up and carry her to the bed. He sat her down on the edge of her mattress and knelt in front of her. He paused to gaze up at her.

“Val, I love you. I have loved you since we met and I will always love you. I am so glad you want to give us another shot, but I don’t want to rush this if you want to take it slow,” he said with restraint.

“Jared, I want this. I want you. You are my soft place to land, my partner in crime, and most of all, the one I want in my bed,” she said breathily. She kissed him lightly on the lips. “Don’t stop.”