Julia
I placed my hand in Van's, his long fingers wrapping around mine. During the ride, I'd been lost in my own thoughts, but now, seeing him, alarm bells sounded within me. There was a change in his expression that I couldn't read. “Is something wrong?"
He helped me from the car and wrapped me in his arms. On the sidewalk, for all the world to see, we stood, me against him, his embrace tightening as the muscles beneath his shirt relaxed. His words were muffled.
As he finally loosened his hold, I looked up. The air was white with our breath. Beyond the vapor, I saw the man I loved.
“I've been worried about you," he said.
Taking my hand in his, we entered the hotel. As we mingled through the other guests on the way to the elevator, I leaned against his arm, taking comfort in his str
