I got permission to skip my afternoon classes in order to meet Steven at the airport and I finished all my homework last night. I want to see him, to spend some real time with him. Christmas was stressful. I wanted Steven to want to return, but until a few days ago I wasn’t sure that he would. Gramma insisted on coming with me and bringing her is my payment to Matt for the skipped classes.

The airport is full of businessman and a few families. People getting off planes all wear coats, but most waiting in line at the metal detects don’t. The weather has been warm this last week, especially for January, but it’s still probably colder than where the travelers are going. I look up at the arrivals. Steven’s plane is an hour late, but due in the next few minutes. Gramma brought a book, and she doesn’t even look up as I leave my seat to pace. I hate waiting, but worse than waiting is the worry that Steven will have changed his mind.

What if he doesn’t want to love me anymore? What if he’s decided I am too young? I’m sure I can hold myself back until my birthday if that’s what Steven wants, but what if he doesn’t want me at all? What if my being Matt’s stepson is too much for him? What if—

I feel a pat on my shoulder. It’s Gramma. “Don’t worry so much, you’ll wrinkle your cute, young face. It looks like Steven’s plane arrived. Let’s go get him. I can’t wait to meet Zoe.”

I know that it will take him at least a while to disembark, but I can wait—and worry—anywhere. I show Gramma where Steven will make his appearance and she leans against the wall and goes back to her book. She’s reading an adventure book with two male leads that was recommended to Jenn by one of her friends. Jenn asked Gramma to read it first, and tell her if it had any sex in it. She said she wasn’t ready for that.

Gramma, a carnivore when it comes to reading, didn’t just read the first one but bought the other two. She answered her daily phone calls from Jenn with “No sex yet” before even saying hello often enough that Jenn asked her to stop with the updates and give her the first novel already. Just in time, Gramma told me on the way to the airport, because she found the sex.

People stagger down the hall toward us. I pace back and forth across the hall, waiting to see Steven’s familiar face. I glance up in time to see him turn the corner. He has an overstuffed carry-on bag over one shoulder and a small, dark haired girl, dressed all in purple, balanced on his hip. Rings are dark under his eyes and Zoe blinks her eyes several times before she closes them, slumping forward. I step beyond the barrier and take his bag. I don’t think Zoe would like to wake up and find a stranger holding her.

Gramma does not feel the same caution, but as she tugs the girl from Steven’s tired arms, Zoe wakes up and cries. Steven takes her back and soothes her, presumably in Greek as I can’t understand any of it. When Zoe is calm again, I ask about Steven’s other bags, but he says he didn’t bring any. My heart stops and Gramma looks aghast. But he doesn’t see either of our reactions as he arranges Zoe in his arms. “Lydia said it would be cheaper to mail everything. We posted it on Saturday, so it will get here in the next few days.

Gramma sighs behind her hand and then smiles brightly and asks Steven about his trip. I take longer to recover, so I follow then out to my car. Steven straps Zoe in the car seat Gramma bought and sits in the back seat beside her. Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror, but he quickly turns away to tend to his daughter. I can’t believe I’m jealous of a four year old. Gramma keeps up her side of the conversation, but I can see how tired Steven is, so I tell him that if he wants to sleep he can.

He doesn’t, but the car is silent except for a few exchanges in Greek until we get to Gramma’s house. I carry the bag inside and Steven collapses on a couch with his daughter in his arms. Gramma busies herself in the kitchen making tea. I pace back and forth and find myself in the kitchen. Gramma made Steven a sandwich and I take it to him.

He smiles at me. “Do you normally pace this much?”

I shake my head, but can’t seem to stop my feet. I didn’t even eat ham and Swiss for lunch because I know he doesn’t like them, but it looks like my sacrifice is for nothing. Who knows when I’ll get a chance to kiss him?

“I miss you. Do you know that?”

My heart stops and so do my feet. He leans his head over the back of the couch and looks up at me. My gut clinches and I forget to breath. He raises a hand and I bow my head over his. He runs his fingers through the hair at the back of my neck, pulling me closer until his tongue passes my lips. I trace his jaw with one hand and support my weight on the back of the couch with the other. God I missed him.

My hand slips down his neck to his chest where it is halted by Zoe, who I forgot was there. I pull away quickly, which makes Steven laugh. His lips are puffy from our kiss and his eyes are bright. Zoe, on the other hand, stares at me with wide eyes, her thumb firmly in her mouth. “Don’t mind her,” Steven says, “She’ll get used to it.”

Easier said than done.