BLAINE

Anxiety shuddered through my nerves as I watched Xandry sprinting toward our direction with the most gorgeous and glorious smile I’d ever seen. He was wearing a crumpled white shirt, sleeves rolled up his elbows, and dark grey pants. His disheveled hair was longer than the last time I saw him. He had dark circles under his eyes and days worth of scruff.

Ben was already jumping with excitement beside me. “Mommy, it’s Sandry! Mommy, look he’s coming!” It didn’t end there. He slipped his hand off my grip and ran toward Xandry.

“Ben!” With trembling fingers, I covered my mouth, my eyes bulged as I watched Xandry lifted...