Always There

Chapter Fifty-Two

"What are you staring at?"

It takes me a few moments to process Bryce's words, and then it takes me a few more moments to realise that, sure enough, I've been staring at Bryce's face for far too long.

"Nothing. I was just appreciating your face. Not that you need that added boost of confidence, though, because everybody who looks at you appreciates your face," I blurt out.

Bryce chuckles and reaches up for my face, his thumb brushing against my cheekbone. "Thank you, Blossom. I can always enjoy having my face appreciated."

I huff at him, but when he drops his hand from my face, I let him link his fingers through mine before he rests both of our hands in his lap.

I look up into Bryce's eyes and immediately, I smile so wide that it hurts. Something about him just makes me so damn happy.

"Do you two have any plans for the day after you drop us off at the airport?" my mom suddenly asks, forcing me to look away from Bryce.

I nod at her. "Yeah. Kennedy is going to come over and help me get caught up a little bit with school. I'm very excited to get my life back on track. It feels like everything has been so skewed over the past few days."

Mom gives me a small smile and an understanding nod of her head.

My dad then chimes into the conversation by saying, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Lexi. Take your time and don't get too stressed. And just know that your mother and I will always be there if you need our help. You can call us whenever."

For some reason, it now seems to suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks that in a few hours, my parents will be back home.

Something must have changed in my expression because Bryce suddenly gives my hand a firm, insistent squeeze.

I squeeze his hand back as I respond to my dad. "Thank you. That means a lot. I'm really going to miss having you all here, you know. I'll make sure to call you whenever I get the chance."

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Bryce's POV

Blossom had a really difficult time saying goodbye to her parents and brother at the airport.

She cried a lot as she hugged all three of them twice, managed to take a few deep breaths as they disappeared into the security line, but then began to sob again as soon as we got into the car to drive home.

She managed to stop crying after she spent a few minutes curled up on the couch, snuggled up with her stuffed unicorn, once we got home.

She then called Kennedy and invited her to come over so that they could get started on studying, which is why I'm currently sitting at the kitchen table, proofreading a paper that I have to submit tonight, as Blossom, Kennedy, Knox, and Nathan all sit in the living room, doing more laughing and chatting than work.

I catch a part of their conversation.

"I honestly thought you were dead. I was so worried. There is no way you can die before you get to be on Broadway. You deserve to have all of your dreams come true," I hear Kennedy say.