63 | love drunk

LOVE DRUNK

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The soft hum of the airport filled Diana's ears — the overlapping chatter, the rhythmic roll of suitcase wheels, and the distant overhead announcements echoing off the glass and tile. It was the kind of noise that didn't really fade; it just blended into a low, restless hum that made her pulse pick up.

She stood beside Felicia and Loren in the arrivals terminal, her heart pounding faster than she wanted to admit.

It had been a month.

A month since she'd last seen him in person.

A month since she'd stood outside her tour bus, watching Malachi walk away toward the waiting car, suitcase trailing behind him. She'd waved until the car turned the corner and disappeared, telling herself it would fly by — that work and FaceTimes would make the time apart easier.

But it hadn't.

No screen could ever replicate the warmth of his presence — the way his laughter filled a room, the way he'd look at her like she was the only thing that existed. She missed the smell of his cologne, the quiet moments between their jokes, the way his hand always found hers without even thinking.

And now, after weeks of rehearsals, shows, and countdowns on her phone, he was finally home.

Diana adjusted her hoodie, her fingers fidgeting with the strings as she tried to stay calm. The terminal around them was bright, the afternoon light pouring in through the tall glass windows. Felicia was beside her, scrolling through her phone but smiling, her own excitement barely contained. Loren stood on her other side, watching the automatic doors where passengers were trickling in.

The three of them had been waiting for twenty minutes, perched near the barrier that separated the waiting area from baggage claim.

"He texted me ten minutes ago," Felicia said, looking up from her phone. "Said he got off the plane and is waiting for his bag."

Diana nodded, exhaling softly. "Okay," she murmured. "Okay. That's good."

Felicia turned her head, watching her with a gentle smile. "You nervous?"

Diana laughed under her breath, tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear. "A little," she admitted. "I don't know why. I mean, it's Malachi."

Felicia chuckled warmly. "Sweetheart, it's normal. You've been apart for a month. You've been living in two completely different worlds. Now it's all coming together again."

"Yeah," Diana said softly. "It just... feels surreal."

Loren glanced over his shoulder, eyes scanning the crowd. "Should be any minute now."

Diana's heart leapt in her chest. Any minute.

Her gaze darted to the crowd moving toward them — a flood of travelers pushing carts, dragging luggage, hugging their loved ones. She couldn't help but search every face, every tall figure, looking for him.

Then she heard Loren's voice, low but certain.

"There he is."

Diana's head snapped up.

And there he was.

Even from far away, she'd know that silhouette anywhere — the messy curls, the dark hoodie, the easy, unhurried walk that somehow still drew attention. Malachi had one hand gripping the handle of his suitcase, his other holding his phone. He scanned the crowd once, eyes flicking from face to face.

For half a second, she stayed frozen.

Every instinct in her screamed to run, to close the distance, to just get to him. But she hesitated, glancing toward Felicia, unsure if she should. This was his first time seeing his parents in person too — she didn't want to take that from them.

When she turned her head, though, Felicia was already smiling knowingly, eyes sparkling as she lifted her phone to start recording.

"Go get him," Felicia said softly, her voice filled with warmth.

Diana's eyes went wide, her lips parting.

"Are you sure?" she whispered.

Felicia laughed, nodding toward the crowd. "Go!"

That was all she needed.

Her heart pounded so hard it almost hurt as she broke into a run — weaving through the crowd, ignoring the curious glances as her sneakers slapped against the polished floor. Felicia and Loren followed behind at a slower pace, grinning as they watched her sprint across the terminal.

Malachi's head shot up at the sound of her footsteps, and the second he saw her running toward him, he dropped everything — his suitcase, his phone, as he took two long strides forward.

He laughed, just before she collided with him.

Her feet left the ground as she jumped, arms looping tightly around his neck. His hands caught her instantly — one steady against her back, the other gripping the back of her thigh as he lifted her effortlessly off the floor.

She buried her face against his neck, breathing in the familiar mix of his cologne and airport air. The world around them blurred into a soft buzz — announcements, footsteps, chatter — but all she could focus on was the warmth of his arms and the way his heartbeat thrummed against her chest.

Malachi held her close, his face buried in her hair. "I missed you so much," he murmured, his voice quiet but thick with emotion.

Her breath trembled as she whispered back, "I missed you too."

For a moment, neither of them moved. They just stood there, holding on — two people who had spent a month pretending that phone calls were enough.

Diana finally leaned back slightly, eyes shining as she looked at him. His curls were a little longer, his skin tanned from filming, and his smile — that smile — made every second of waiting worth it.

"Hi," she whispered.

He grinned softly. "Hi."

Before she could say anything else, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her temple, lingering for a moment like he was memorizing the feel of her.

Behind them, Felicia had tears in her eyes as she kept recording, her free hand resting on Loren's arm.

Diana eventually slid back down to the floor, her hands still gripping his hoodie. She didn't want to let go, not even for a second.

Malachi's eyes flicked past her, spotting his parents. His grin widened as he reached for them.

"Mom! Dad!"

Felicia barely had time to lower her phone before he pulled her into a hug, laughing softly as she hugged him back just as tight. "Oh, sweetheart, it's so good to have you home," she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

Loren followed, wrapping his son in a firm hug and clapping his back. "Proud of you, kid. Welcome home."

Diana stood nearby, watching the reunion with a soft smile. Her heart felt full — like it couldn't possibly hold everything it was feeling at once.

When Malachi finally turned back to her, he didn't hesitate to slide his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "You ready?" he asked, his voice low and warm.

She nodded, leaning into him. "More than ready."

He grabbed his phone off the floor, retrieved his suitcase handle with one hand, and kept his other arm draped around her as they started walking toward the exit.

Felicia and Loren followed just a few steps behind, exchanging amused glances as they watched the two of them — the way Malachi kept glancing down at Diana, the way she couldn't stop smiling.

Outside, the California sun was bright and blinding. The automatic doors opened, and the warm air hit them like a wave. Malachi inhaled deeply, tilting his head back with a satisfied sigh.

"God, I missed this weather," he said.

Diana smiled, watching him. "Welcome home."

He turned his head to look at her, eyes softening as he smiled back. "Feels good to be home."

Felicia caught up beside them, still smiling. "Okay, lovebirds," she said teasingly, "let's get you two fed before you pass out. You must be starving."

Malachi chuckled. "Starving doesn't even begin to cover it."

Diana looked up at him with a grin. "Then let's go."

He squeezed her shoulder gently as they walked toward the parking lot together — four people, laughter in the air, luggage rolling behind them, hearts full.

And as they stepped into the sunlight, Diana glanced up at Malachi again and smiled softly to herself.

Because no matter how far apart they'd been, no matter how many cities or time zones stood between them, moments like this reminded her of one thing.

Some people are worth the wait.

dianasinclair just posted a tiktok !

Diana Sinclair • 4-14he's home 🥹             ♥️    @Malachi Barton                 936k      💬                                                                11,492

usermy babies are back 🥹

userAHHHHHHH

userthe way he drops his phone user he dropped everything for her

Malachi Bartonmissed you ♥️ Diana Sinclair missed you more ♥️

userhow he holds her 😩    user    hand placement 😩

Daniella Karagach you guys are too cute 🥰 liked by creator

user they're so happy

The night air outside Diana's apartment was cool, tinted with the faint hum of city traffic and the soft glow of streetlights flickering through the trees. She and Malachi walked close together, his fingers brushing against hers as they made their way up the short flight of stairs to her building. Their laughter still echoed softly between them from dinner — the kind of easy, giddy laughter that came when you'd missed someone so much that even silence felt like a relief.

Diana juggled her keys and her tote bag as she pushed the door open, the faint scent of vanilla candles and lavender detergent greeting them. The soft light from the kitchen spilled across the hardwood floor. Her suitcases were still half-unpacked from the tour, a reminder that it had been over a week and she'd only just gotten used to being home again.

"Home sweet home," she said softly, tossing her bag onto the counter and turning to look at him.

Malachi stood in the doorway, hoodie slightly wrinkled from the flight. His curls were a little messy, his eyes warm and tired — but glowing. "Can't believe I'm actually here," he murmured, gaze fixed on her.

She smiled. "Me neither. Feels weird seeing you in person again. Like... real-life you. Not pixelated FaceTime you."

He laughed, running a hand through his hair. "Pixelated me was pretty cute though."

Diana rolled her eyes playfully, setting her keys down. "You froze every five seconds, so maybe not as cute as you think."

He grinned, stepping closer. "You didn't seem to mind then."

Her stomach flipped. That teasing edge in his tone had always been her undoing. "I didn't," she admitted quietly, smiling up at him.

For a moment, the air between them softened — stretched thin with that familiar energy that always appeared whenever they were alone.

Diana blinked, remembering something. "Hey, I still can't believe you're not going home with your parents tonight. You've been gone a month. Don't you want to see them properly? Stay the night?"

He shook his head almost instantly. "I saw them all through dinner," he said, stepping a little closer, his voice low now. "I don't want to leave you yet."

Her heart thumped harder. She tilted her head, pretending to protest, though she already knew the answer. "We could've both gone to your place, you know. They'd love that."

He smiled softly — and instead of answering, his hand came up to the side of her face, thumb brushing along her jaw. The look in his eyes was enough to melt her resistance completely.

Before she could say anything else, his mouth met hers.

It wasn't a hurried kiss — it was slow at first, full of all the missing weeks, all the texts and late-night calls that hadn't been enough. Diana's hands moved up instinctively, fingers curling into the front of his hoodie as he deepened the kiss. The warmth of him, the faint smell of his cologne — everything about it felt achingly familiar and brand new all at once.

"Because," he murmured, pulling back slightly so that his breath ghosted against her lips, "if we went there... we wouldn't be able to do this."

She laughed — but the sound was caught halfway when he kissed her again, firmer this time, pulling her closer.

They stumbled backward toward the couch, laughing between breaths when she nearly tripped over her duffel bag. He steadied her with his hands on her waist, eyes shining with amusement. "You really need to unpack," he teased.

"Shut up," she whispered, grinning as she pushed him back gently toward the sofa.

He sat down, his hands never leaving her hips, and she followed without hesitation — knees bracketing his, her heartbeat loud in her chest. She could feel his laughter rumble beneath her palms as she rested them against his chest, the rhythm of his breathing syncing with hers.

"Hi," he murmured, voice soft.

"Hi," she whispered back, smiling.

For a few seconds, they just looked at each other — no rush, no words needed. His thumb traced circles on her leg absently, like he didn't even realize he was doing it. She brushed a stray curl from his forehead and said, almost teasingly, "You look tired."

He grinned. "You look beautiful."

She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed. "You're such a liar."

"I'm not," he said simply, pulling her closer again. "I missed you too much to lie."

Her heart softened. "I missed you too," she whispered, before kissing him again.

The kiss hit hard—impatient, all feeling and no hesitation. Their movements were quicker now, almost clumsy in their need, a mix of laughter and gasps between kisses that came too fast to count. Her fingers slipped into his hair, tugging him closer, and he answered with a low sound that vibrated against her lips.

His hands roamed instinctively, memorizing her again—her back, her shoulders, the curve of her spine beneath his palms. She pulled back just long enough to meet his gaze, both of them breathless and a little dazed, before he pulled her in again, the kiss rougher, hungrier.

Diana tilted her head, lips parting to let him in. His tongue grazed hers and she let out the softest sigh, muffled against his mouth. He angled his head, kissing her harder, like he'd been holding it in for far too long.

The air around them crackled—clothes brushing, hearts pounding, the sound of hurried breaths filling the space between them. Every touch felt like both a promise, every kiss a reminder of how much they'd missed this—missed each other.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were smiling — that tired, love-drunk kind of smile that comes from finally being near someone you've missed too much for too long.

Diana rested her forehead against his. "You have no idea how good it is to have you back," she whispered.

"I think I do," he murmured, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "Because it feels the same for me."

She laughed softly, closing her eyes. "You're really not going home tonight, huh?"

He shook his head with a small grin. "Not a chance."

She leaned back just enough to look at him fully, eyes sparkling. "Guess I can't argue with that."

Malachi smirked, brushing a strand of her hair away. "Didn't think you'd try."

They both laughed quietly, their joy filling the small apartment like warmth spreading through the air.

The night carried on that way — soft, easy conversation broken up by lingering touches and quiet smiles. They talked about his time in Vancouver, about her final weeks on tour, about little things that didn't matter and everything that did.

At some point, the city outside grew quieter. The hum of cars faded. The candles in the kitchen burned lower. And the two of them stayed there — half tangled on the couch, laughter giving way to tired, happy silence.

Diana leaned against his chest, tracing her finger absentmindedly along his sleeve. "You know," she said quietly, "when you left the bus, I wasn't sure when we'd have a moment like this again."

He tilted his head to look at her, eyes soft. "You mean when you were standing outside the bus crying?"

She gasped lightly, swatting his chest. "I wasn't crying."

"Uh-huh," he teased. "You totally were."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Okay, maybe a little."

Malachi smiled and kissed the top of her head. "You're allowed to. I was holding it together too, for the record."

"Sure you were."

"I was! Barely," he said, laughing.

Her laughter faded into a soft hum, her eyes half-lidded now. "I don't want you to go anywhere for a while," she murmured.

"I'm not," he promised.

And he meant it.

For a while, they just stayed like that — Diana's head on his chest, his fingers brushing through her hair, the faint sound of rain starting outside against the windows. Every few minutes, one of them would whisper something — a memory, a joke, an I missed you — until words stopped being necessary at all.

At last, when her breathing slowed and her hand went still on his chest, Malachi glanced down and smiled. She'd fallen asleep, a peaceful, tired smile still curving her lips.

He exhaled softly, brushing a thumb across her cheek before shifting just enough to grab the throw blanket from the side of the couch. He draped it over them both, careful not to wake her.

The framed photo he'd given her sat on the coffee table, the soft light from the lamp glinting off the carved words.

Malachi looked at it for a long moment, that same quiet, content smile spreading across his face. Then he rested his head back, one hand still resting gently on Diana's arm, and closed his eyes too.

Outside, the rain fell in a steady rhythm — calm, familiar, and whole again.

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they're obsessed with each other and i love it!!!

next chapter will be a fun one😉

so keep an eye out for it😊