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Early that ot the call Eric’s dad asked if she wanted to pick Eric up at the airport She’d almost said no She still hadn’t heard from Eric But she needed closure If Eric had really decided this was the end for them, she needed to hear it, the sooner the better The torture had gone on long enough

She arrived at the airport early When they’d dropped him off the day after Christet stuck in that kind of traffic, she’d given herself plenty of time The traffic today didn’t even compare

Planes flew in and out of the airport, and Sofia stared out the ondering which one Eric would be in Each one that flew in tied her stomach up even more She wiped away a tear that slid down her cheek Sofia hadn’t bothered with s were okay between theht of Brandon and decided there was no way he was in love with her Maybe he loved her as the only friend he thought had ever given him a chance But in love? He didn’t have the first clue what that was There was no way could he be feeling for her what she felt so deeply for Eric

When she finally saw on the monitor that his plane had arrived, she took a deep breath and sat down She sat and watched as one by one, the passengers came down the escalators Her sucked in her breath when she saw hiers, he headed for the baggage clairabbing his bag from the conveyer, he turned and headed back in her direction He was still coround in front of him Finally, just a few feet away from her, he looked up and their eyes met He stopped in his tracks, and the person behind him nearly ran into him

Sofia stood there, not sure what to expect or say Within seconds, his eyes flooded and he looked away

"I ot the words out "I missed you so much"

Eric dropped his bags, took the few hurried steps to her and wrapped his arhtly She felt him take a deep breath as she wrapped her arms around him "I’m so sorry, Eric"

"Don’t be, Sof" He kissed the side of her head "I’m over it now, but I’ll never be over you I was stupid to think I could ever be over you" He pulled away to look at her face It killed her to see hied her again, holding her tight for a while

"He’s gone, Eric"

Eric tensed, but he didn’t say anything

"Your dad probably told you but I wanted--"

Eric pulled away "Don’t I don’t wanna hear it" He stared at her "You love me?"

"Of course"

"Then that’s all I need to know" He kissed her again "I wasn’t even sure until just nohen I saw you Now I know for sure I could never be happy without you"