“Are you sure it’s all right to leave these here?” I stared at the two bags stuffed in the corner of my sister’s basement.

“It’s not like you can take all those bags with you.” Robin crossed her arms. “It’d be easier to drive all over the country, you know.”

“I know, but then I couldn’t just up and go anywhere. At least with the train I can see what I want and sleep there, instead of at a million hotels.”

Robin shook her head. “Your plan has holes.”

“Lots of them, but lots of room to figure stuff out too.”

I wanted an adventure. That was what I was going to get. Even if there was a little pang in my chest. I had a few months to see if I was making the right decision.

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk to Myles? I mean, you haven’t told me much, but he bought a flippin’ house for you.”

Part of me still wanted to go find Myles and maybe take another look at his shiny house. But I knew in my heart that wasn’t right for us. The timing was off. Our story in a nutshell—timing. Both of us had been too afraid to go after what we needed. I still hoped that someday we’d get our shit together.

I couldn’t imagine my entire life without him.

But I couldn’t stand still anymore. Not even for him.

“I’m going to be late.”

I climbed the stairs and slowly walked through the back hallway to the living room. Pictures of my family lined the walls, so many bright smiles. Some of the photos were set in Florida. One of the stops on my train schedule was a trip to see my folks. But most of my itinerary included cities I’d dreamed of seeing and never had the money or time to visit. Now, I’d make sure to take the time to see New Orleans, Austin, Nashville, Savannah, and so many others.

I hadn’t planned anything after I was supposed to find Myles.

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat that never seemed to go away. It was going to take a long time to get those shattered blue eyes out of my head.

When I got to the door, I rechecked my travel bag one more time. “So did you talk to Todd this morning?”

My sister twirled a lock of her wavy dark hair. “Maybe.”

“Did you jump him at lunch?” I laughed when her neck and chest went pink. “Oh, you did!”

“No.”

“Liar.”

“You are avoiding my question. And I saw your ticket since, you know, you’ve checked it eight times today. You’ve got plenty of time.”

I sighed. I just wanted to get moving. If I didn’t, I never would. “I’ll give it a few weeks and call him.”

“Weeks?”

“He left me for two years, Ro. He can hold his ass for two weeks.”

“Don’t you think you’re being a little unreasonable? He came to you hat in hand.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” I dropped my bag on the end table. “He also came at me with a whole future mapped out without so much as a hi, how are you? What have you been up to for two years?”

“And you have a plan you won’t budge on. There’s a thing called compromise, you know. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.”

I raked back my hair. “How will I know if I don’t go? If I don’t try and see what’s out there?”

“At the expense of him?”

My eyes filled immediately. “Damn you.”

Robin reached for me, but I took a step back. She sighed. “I’m not saying it to hurt you. I just don’t want you to throw everything away because you have tunnel vision about this plan of yours.”

“Because he left me the first time.” I knew my voice was more of a shout.

“What do you mean?”

“He just walked away and I couldn’t breathe around it. I was too afraid to go after him. I just stood there. Frozen.” My voice was a rough whisper. “I don’t want to be that girl, Ro. I can’t be her anymore.”

“That girl isn’t a coward. No matter how you feel about anything else. You started your own company. You worked two, sometimes three jobs to get everything done. That’s not a coward.”

I clenched my fists at my sides. It didn’t feel like it. I couldn’t give myself to Myles that night, and then I couldn’t give myself to any other man who even attempted to get into my sphere.

I was a coward all around.

I tipped back my head. “I have to do this.”

“Fine.”

I blew out a breath. “Please don’t be mad at me.” My phone buzzed. My ride was outside waiting.

“I’m not mad at you.”

“Disappointed?” I looped the messenger bag over my head and double-checked my money and tickets one more time. It was just a confirmation number. I still had to pick up my actual tickets at the station. But I didn’t want any holdups or mistakes.

“Not even that. I’m jealous that you’re brave enough to go out there alone. Even though I’m going to worry about you every night. And you better at least text me and tell me where the hell you are.”

I laughed around a half sob. “I promise.” I hugged her in a rush and grabbed my big bag.

“I just don’t want you to be sorry that you threw something amazing away.”

I held the doorknob but didn’t turn around. “I’ll see you in a few months, Ro.”

I rushed down the driveway to the Uber driver waiting. Through my tears, I loaded my bag into the trunk and got into the backseat. Luckily, the driver wasn’t overly talkative. Right now, that was exactly what I needed.

By the time we pulled up to the train station, I’d gained back a little of my equilibrium. Nerves and second-guessing weren’t going to help anyone.

Especially me.

I would not be one of those women who waffled about a man, dammit.

Before the driver could help me, I hopped out of the car. She popped the trunk for me and I waved her off once I had ahold of both bags.

The front of the building looked even larger than the few times I’d passed it by. Stone columns and a huge clock gave it a stately air. People rushed around and the scent of water mixed with food carts. I had time to kill and now that I was here, the sense of urgency was leaking out of me like a four-day-old Mylar balloon.

I tried to push down my sister’s voice, Myles’s pleading tone as he asked me to give us a try, and my own quieter one that started a what-if chant.

None of those voices were supposed to be with me today. I’d been counting down the days to this trip. I glanced down at my phone to the countdown app I’d installed. T-minus three hours until I started my new life.

I stalked past the doors to the ticket station and around the back to the wide-open square. A visitors’ center, park, and huge walkway framed the river. It was midday and the regular commuters were rushing around while others were saying their hellos and goodbyes.

And here I was, alone.

By choice.

Today was the first day of everything I’d been working toward for the last year. Maybe even two years.

Had the germ of the idea happened that rainy night I’d kissed Myles? I’d wanted to chase after him and beg him to give us a chance. And if not us, then not to ruin our friendship. But I was far too pragmatic.

Afraid.

I didn’t want to hear that little voice. I didn’t want it to be right. But what if I was doing the same exact thing right now? Ignoring that inner guidance that was only trying to help, not hurt.

Disgusted, I found a spot under one of the trees and collapsed on the grass to watch the ships at port. Trawlers, tours, and in the distance, a few pleasure crafts bobbed on the water. Baltimore was such a hub of activity at all times. Somehow I’d become static, and I was so tired of that.

This was the right thing to do.

There was something romantic about the idea of traveling across country in a train. I tried not to focus on how much thinking time I’d have. But I’d be moving. And that was the important part. I had to move forward with something in my life.

I’d just use all the downtime on the train to work. Then I’d have ample time to see all the sights without worrying about money. It was a perfect plan.

I got to my feet and gathered my things. A flash of dark curls stole my breath.

I whipped my head around, my heart stuttering in my chest. I lost the man in the crowd. Suddenly, I spotted him again, but it wasn’t him. His shoulders were too narrow and the guy hadn’t seen the inside of a shower in way longer than Myles would allow.

“So stupid, Felicity.” I trudged my way to the side entrance and followed signs for the ticket area. The kiosks for electronic tickets had a wrapping line. I should have printed out a ticket, but I was hoping to upgrade to a sleeper car. Now, with my head pounding like a kick drum, I was willing to pay even more to upgrade.

I followed another line of people to the escalator. Sunlight shot through the trio of stained-glass windows in the ceiling as I got closer to the top floor. Huge antique benches lined the room in every possible configuration. It was the middle of the day, so they were full of bodies. Unhappy children, disgruntled tourists, and the everyday commuter traffic created a wall of noise.

In the distance, I heard music. A violinist was busking at the edges of the ticket area. On the other side of the massive room, a crowd of people circled another musician. A pair of security officers were also hovering on the fringes.

I’d been to New York a handful of times and saw people working the subways, but it seemed a far less likely thing here. Especially with the “no loitering” signs posted near the tracks.

I headed for the ticket booth, but a haunting combination of notes floated my way. I didn’t know the song, but it didn’t stop my shoulders from hunching up in reaction. There was a sadness to the song that climbed inside me and urged me closer. Whoever it was, there was a talent that couldn’t be denied.

Even with the overwhelming feedback from speakers calling out track numbers and the cacophony of conversations, I knew that was definitely the thundering echo of a keyboard.

“Plenty of keyboard players out there,” I muttered to myself. Still, I moved forward toward the crowd. Tall as I was, I still couldn’t see over the heads of half the people. A guitarist strummed out a frantic pace, accompanying the piano. I dodged heads and weaved around people. A few shuffled out of the way for me, but a woman directly in front of me was intent on keeping her spot.

It couldn’t be.

Suddenly a voice rose—and my heart stopped.

There was no denying it now.

Myles.

The urge to back up was overwhelming, but there were too many people around me. The lyrics were unapologetic, the music a study in grit and less polish than I was used to when it came to his songs. The guitar was a steady thrum followed by a slap against the body of the instrument until it mimicked a heartbeat. It framed out Myles’s playing and made the need for drums obsolete.

But it was the words that I couldn’t shut out.

These roads I’ve traveled

Have all led me back here

A shadow of a man

Heart carved out and in hand

In my mind

I offered her all

In my heart

I didn’t trust

These faces I’ve studied

Reminded me of the one

I’ve missed for so long

Heart bleeding and in hand

In my mind

I offered her all

In my heart

I couldn’t trust

These nights I’ve lived

With the ghost of her

Now I need her light

Heart beating in hand

In my mind

I offered her all

In my heart

I needed to trust

Tears dripped down my chin and splashed my chest before I realized it. The lyrics were powerful and gritty. Honest to the point of a knife’s edge. Totally different than the music he created with his band. Myles had always had an amazing voice, but here there was no artifice. It was so raw it made my chest ache.

Finally, the girl in front of me moved to the side.

Myles’s hair was in his eyes and the cords in his neck were straining with the power of his words. He wore a long-sleeved white Henley, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, revealing the winding color of his ink. A navy vest made his shoulders seem wider. Each wrist was banded with a leather cuff that showed off his amazing arms. A flash of silver caught my eye as his fingers chased down the keyboard before he started slamming out notes again as the song built to its end.

The people around me clapped and a wolf whistle traveled up my spine like an icy finger.

This was a Myles I’d never heard before. Never seen either. He was actually busking like a street performer. There was even a half dozen bills and handfuls of coins littering the guitarist’s case. I didn’t recognize the scruffy-faced man with messy ginger hair and Buddy Holly glasses who was accompanying Myles.

Myles flung back his head and his chest heaved with exertion. He raked his fingers through his curls before smiling into the crowd. “Thanks. First time I’ve played that one.” His smile froze and slid away as he found me in the crowd. “I wrote it with a particular someone in mind.”

I tried to back away, but his voice rose as he picked out soft notes. His voice pure and sweet with the barest piano accompaniment.

I have lost

The light you brought

And in the dark

I found my truth

My head told me to love

My heart trembled and fled

Here I am

Heart full and on edge

Now my head

And my heart

Know where I belong

Damn him. His gaze never left mine. It pinned me as effectively as his arms had yesterday. Up against that wall with all the love and passion in his eyes. Here there was only love.

He had to use words against me.

And unlike the song with my name attached to it, this was honest to a fault.

Honest in a way I hadn’t allowed myself to be.

I wanted to run. There was no way I could say no to this. No way I could walk away. The room shimmered with my tears running unchecked down my stupid cheeks.

Myles came out from behind the piano stand. “Fee, wait.”

I didn’t even know I was trying to run until he caught my hand.

“I’m not here to change your mind.”

“What?” I looked around at the people making way for us. Not dispersing, because of course not. My face flamed as I caught phones being lifted to film us. They’d been filming Myles’s songs, but now we were making a damn spectacle.

“I’m not. I needed to play.” He laughed. “I haven’t said that in a damn long time. I needed to play and I hoped you’d hear me. That I could maybe show you exactly what I was feeling. To let me tell you how I felt the right way.”

“Myles, I can’t do this with all these people.”

“I don’t care who knows.” He looked at the crowd around us. “I’ll tell it to fifty YouTube channels and a thousand Facebook Lives.” Then his gaze locked on mine again. “It doesn’t matter if I tell you here, or yell it over the loudspeaker. I love you, Fee. I’ll wait for you if I need to.”

My heart raced in my chest as I reached up to wipe my tears. Instead, Myles cupped my face, his crazy-long fingers blocking out everyone around us. He brushed away my tears with his thumbs. The silver glint I’d seen was the necklace I’d given him woven into the leather of one of his cuffs.

A sob welled up. “Oh, Myles. I don’t have to go.”

“Of course you do. I’ve chased my dreams for years, but I was really just winding my way back to you.”

“But—”

“We don’t have to stay in Baltimore. I just need you. If you’ll let me, I’ll go with you.”

“Right now?” I couldn’t have heard him correctly. My head was full of white noise. Actually, it was the sound of clapping. I gripped his wrists.

He laughed. “Don’t pay attention to them. Yes, right now. I just happen to be available. I’m unemployed though. Think you can handle that?”

“I always knew you were a slacker at heart.”

“Slacker who loves you like crazy.” He lowered his mouth to mine.

“I love you too,” I said before he closed his mouth over mine.

All too soon, he eased back and blew out a shaky breath. “Thank God.”

The next kiss was sweet and soft with just a little bit of that wild I’d tasted before. And now I didn’t have to live without it. Without him.

“Would you really go with me?” I whispered against his lips. “I have an itinerary and we’d have to get you tickets—”

He shut me up with a hard, thorough kiss. I wanted to melt into the tiled floor as people clapped again. He curled his arms around me, dragging me into his chest. “I’d go anywhere with you, Fee.”