Allie had been counting the days.She chose her return date carefully—just a few days before Kit's birthday. It was the perfect setup.
With his mom's help, she planned everything in secret. Every detail—her flight, her ride from the airport, the excuse to get him home—was locked down with military precision. And the best part? He had no clue.
For Allie, this was payback—the sweetest kind. After all, Curtis Harper had surprised her one too many times. Now it was her turn.She spent her final week tying up loose ends. At the club, she thanked everyone sincerely, hugging each coworker who had become like family. There were teary smiles and heartfelt goodbyes.
Jessica, now a new mom, met her for lunch, her baby gurgling in her arms.
"You were there when I needed help," Allie said warmly. "Thank you for believing in me."
Jessica smiled, eyes soft. "You've come so far, Allie. Come back anytime, okay? They will always have a spot for you."
Even Kazuki, still his usual teasing self, refused to let her leave without one last jab. "You sure you want to go back to that guy? What a lucky bastard. I'm still not over you!"
Allie laughed, shaking her head. "Goodbye, Kazuki. Try not to break too many hearts."
Later that evening, she stood in front of her apartment one last time. The sun was setting, painting Tokyo in honeyed light. She traced the edges of her keys, then slipped them into the manager's drop box.
When she first stepped through that door months ago, she'd been uncertain, lost—a girl searching for her place. Now, she walked away as a woman who had found her strength, her voice… and her heart.
She closed the door gently behind her. That chapter was done. The flight felt endless. Allie couldn't sleep; her mind was a reel of Curtis's face, his voice, the way he'd laugh quietly under his breath when she said something silly. She smiled to herself, clutching her phone. She could already imagine his shock—the way his eyes would widen, then soften, the moment he saw her again.
Meanwhile, back home, Curtis was miserable.
Of all weeks for Allie to go off to "train new staff" and "attend a seminar," it had to be his birthday week. He felt played. "She's really testing me," he grumbled, scrolling through her last message for the tenth time. "Testing my patience and abusing my love."
To make matters worse, his mom insisted he spend his birthday at home this year. When he tried to decline, she'd cried—actually cried—complaining that he never celebrated with them anymore. She even compared him to Jonah, of all people, who always showed up for family dinners. That did it. He gave in.
So there he was—stuck, or so he thought—celebrating his birthday with his parents.
But as the week went on, the bitterness faded. Fishing trips with his dad, grocery runs with his mom, her bragging to friends that her son was "back home again." Evenings filled with laughter, teasing, and old stories. Curtis secretly loved every minute.
His favorite part was watching his parents bicker mid-conversation, only to end up holding hands five minutes later. His dad's wisdom, his mom's warmth—it all reminded him what home felt like.
When Allie's plane landed, she called her mom first.
"Mom, I'm back," she whispered excitedly. Her mom squealed, clapping her hands. "But I have something important to do before coming home," Allie added.
Her mom chuckled knowingly. "Go, baby. He's waiting—even if he doesn't know it yet."
It was Curtis's birthday. The Harpers' backyard had been transformed into a cheerful picnic scene. His mom had gone all out—barbecue grills, pastel bunting, fresh flowers, laughter floating in the air. Neighbors, family, and friends filled the garden. Jonah had even shown up with a new girlfriend.
Curtis looked the best he had in months—sun-kissed from golf and fishing, clean haircut, crisp linen shirt, and that quietly confident look that made heads turn.
Jonah clapped him on the back. "Happy birthday, man! Feels like we're ten again. Your mom even got balloons!"
Curtis groaned. "Don't let her hear you. She'll report you to your mom next."
Jonah smirked. "Where's Allie, anyway?"
Curtis's smile faltered. "Don't remind me. She's got some training thing—miles away."
Jonah leaned closer, whispering, "Just saying, bro, watch out for the single ladies here. They're vultures. Her loss if she left you alone like this."
Curtis laughed lightly but there was a sting under it. "Relax. I'm not that easy."
Still, as the afternoon went on, he kept checking his phone. No text. No call. No post. Nothing. He tried to enjoy the party—to smile, to talk—but the ache grew heavier. Maybe she forgot. Or maybe… something happened.
He shoved his phone into his pocket and forced himself to mingle, chatting with old family friends who couldn't believe how much he'd changed. "Curtis Harper, smiling? Never thought I'd see the day!" they teased.
Then his mom called from the porch."Curtis, sweetheart! Can you grab the fruit salad I ordered? Delivery guy's here!"
He sighed but smiled. "Sure thing, Mom."
He walked to the front door, adjusting his shirt. The moment he pulled it open—
A girl holding a bunch of colorful balloons came racing up the walkway.
For a split second, his brain didn't register it. Then her face came into view, lit by the sun, eyes bright, smile wide—
"Allie?"
"Happy Birthday!" she shouted, running full speed toward him.
Before he could react, she leapt into his arms—balloons flying, laughter spilling from her lips. He caught her instinctively, her arms wrapping around his neck, her legs around his waist.
And then she kissed him.
It wasn't just a kiss—it was every lonely night, every text, every I-miss-you pressed into one breathless, perfect moment.
Curtis froze, then hugged her so tight she could barely breathe. His throat burned; tears stung his eyes. He looked at her again, just to make sure she was real.
"Allie…" he breathed. "You're here."
"Surprised?" she teased, still smiling.
He glanced around—the guests were laughing, cheering. His parents stood at the porch, clapping, teary-eyed. For once, he didn't care who was watching.
He kissed her again, whispering against her skin, "You have no idea how much I missed you."
Allie laughed, pulling back slightly. "You surprised me enough times—it's only fair I return the favor."
She turned to his mom and hugged her tightly. "We did it, Jane! Thank you for keeping my secret!"
The two women grinned like co-conspirators while Curtis just stood there, speechless, completely undone.In that moment, he knew.She wasn't just the love of his life—she was his life.Later that night, when the last guests had gone and the house was quiet, Allie stayed behind to help clean up. Curtis followed her everywhere, unwilling to let her go, clinging to her hand like a man starved of warmth.
She didn't push him away. She let him hold her, let him exist in that happiness he so deserved.
His parents urged her to stay the night. So she did.They spent the late evening talking—Curtis and his dad strumming guitars, his mom chatting with Allie over leftover cake and tea. The house was filled with laughter and soft music.
When they finally laid into bed, Curtis pulled her close, his breath warm against her ear.
"Thank you," he whispered. "You made this the best birthday I've ever had. You're all I'll ever want."
Allie turned, brushing her fingers along his jaw. "Thank you for having me. Because of you, I gained more people to love."
Their lips met again—slow, deep, full of everything they'd missed. They slip under the sheets, she went on top of him, and consummed him. The world outside didn't matter anymore.
And when they finally drifted to sleep—limbs tangled, hearts steady, surrounded by the quiet hum of home—Allie knew, without a doubt, that she was exactly where she belonged.
She was home.