[Miami] [Morning]
The private terminal felt quieter than the main airport, though there was still movement everywhere. Staff members were working as usual while announcements echoed softly through hidden speakers. Outside the giant glass windows, several private jets sat across the runway.
Jack stood near the seating area with one hand in the pocket of his hoodie while checking the time on his phone for what felt like the tenth time in the last fifteen minutes.
Their flight had already landed.
Now he was just waiting for them to come through.
Or more specifically, waiting for Haley.
A small smile kept threatening to appear every time he thought about seeing her again. It had been months since they had properly spent time together in person. Calls helped. Video chats helped. Late-night texts definitely helped. Still, none of it felt the same as actually being near her.
Today mattered to him.
Tomorrow would be chaos.
His birthday party was going to be packed with actors, producers, musicians, business people, and way too many conversations that sounded important. He already knew most of the night would disappear into networking, introductions, and people trying to pull him in different directions.
That was exactly why he planned today carefully.
Today belonged to Haley.
Just Haley.
He already had everything mapped out in his head. First, let her rest after the flight because six hours in the air still sucked, no matter how luxurious the plane was. Then lunch somewhere quiet near the water. After that, a long drive through the city with no schedule hanging over them, and maybe shop a little. Sunset near the beach. Dinner later at one of the rooftop restaurants she kept sending him pictures of months ago.
And after all that...
He just wanted to exist around her again without a phone screen involved.
Jack exhaled slowly and glanced toward the gate again.
Still nothing.
His fingers tapped lightly against his arm before he stopped himself and laughed quietly under his breath. "Relax," he muttered to himself. "Stop being jumpy."
A nearby staff member recognized him and smiled politely while walking past. Jack returned the nod automatically before looking back toward the entrance again almost immediately.
Then the gate finally opened.
Passengers started filtering through slowly, dragging suitcases behind them. A businessman walked out first, followed by an older couple and a family arguing over a missing charger.
Then he saw them.
The Dunphy family emerged into the terminal carrying enough bags to look like they were relocating permanently.
Phil walked slightly ahead of everyone with sunglasses on, despite being indoors, looking way too excited for someone who had just spent six hours trapped in a plane seat. Claire followed beside him while already fixing something inside her bag with the focused energy of a woman preventing future disasters. Luke looked half-awake while carrying snacks in both hands, and Alex walked beside him with headphones around her neck and a book tucked under her arm.
Then Haley appeared behind them. She was wearing a cute blue top and jeans with a black scarf around her neck.
Jack's entire attention locked onto her instantly.
She spotted him at almost the exact same moment.
Her face lit up so quickly it looked automatic.
"Oh my God," she breathed out before immediately shoving one of her bags toward Alex without warning.
Alex nearly stumbled. "Hey!"
Haley ignored her completely and broke into a run.
Jack barely had time to open his arms before she reached him. He caught her around the waist instantly as she crashed into him laughing, and the momentum pushed him back half a step before he lifted her clean off the ground.
"There you are," he said, grinning so hard it almost hurt.
Haley wrapped her arms tightly around his neck while laughing breathlessly. "I missed you so much."
Jack spun her once.
Then again.
Haley laughed louder the second time, holding onto him while her hair flew around from the movement. When he finally slowed down, he lowered her just enough for their faces to line up before kissing her properly. He could taste her cherry lip gloss as their tongues met. She kissed him back hungrily like a girl in heat. But they had to stop before things got out of hand.
Still, the kiss lasted longer than either of them planned.
Long enough for the airport around them to disappear for a second.
They pulled away for a moment while smiling.
"I missed you so much," Jack whispered against her lips as he leaned in for a quick peck.
A few feet away, Phil watched the scene unfold with the emotional expression of a man witnessing true love in the wild.
"Oh, look at the lovebirds," he said warmly while nudging Claire with his elbow. "Feels like just yesterday when the football..."
"Not now, Phil," Claire said right away, although a smile was appearing on her face. Despite her doubts, she accepted that she was wrong and Phil was right about Haley and Jack's relationship. Still, sometimes she has that strange thought that whispers: You're right, Claire. Just wait for it.
Luke looked between Jack and Haley before grimacing dramatically. "Okay, cool. They're kissing already. We've been here thirty seconds."
Alex adjusted the bags Haley dumped onto her earlier and sighed. "At least she didn't forget him at home like she almost forgot her passport."
"I heard that," Haley replied instantly without even pulling away from Jack completely.
Jack laughed before finally setting her fully back onto the floor, though his hands stayed around her waist like neither of them was ready to create actual distance yet.
"You look tired," he said softly while brushing some hair away from her face.
Haley nodded once. "I am. But also really happy right now."
"That works," he replied.
Phil finally walked over and pulled Jack into a quick side hug. "Birthday boy," he announced proudly. "Look at you. Movie star, writer, private jet guy. Still humble enough to hug your future father-in-law."
Jack laughed. "Good to see you too, Mr. Dunphy."
"C'mon, I think we're past Mr. Dunphy. You can call me Vitamin P or P-Daddy. Maybe The Big P or Phillinger?" Phil said as he pulled back.
"I think Mr. Dunphy sounds cooler," Jack replied.
Claire stepped in next and gave Jack a proper hug as well. "Happy early birthday," she said warmly. "And thank you again for inviting all of us."
"Of course, Mrs. Dunphy," Jack replied easily. "You guys are family at this point."
Phil looked emotional again immediately. "Did you hear that, Claire? Family." He was hinting at that Halloween drama where Claire called Jack 'not a family.'
"I heard it," Claire replied while already spotting Luke trying to take another snack from the lounge counter nearby. "Luke! Put that back."
"I'm just browsing!" Luke shouted back defensively.
Jack shook his head laughing before looking back toward Haley again.
She was still staring at him like she was making sure he was actually there.
And honestly...
He probably looked at her the exact same way.
"Alright," He said, shifting his attention to everyone. "Let's go to the resort." He then pointed his finger at Luke. "By the way, Luke. That biker jacket looks cool."
"Thanks," Luke smiled as he looked toward Alex. "See, told you, I look cool."
Alex simply shook her head, mumbling, "Boys and bikes."
...
The drive to the resort took a little under forty minutes.
Phil spent most of it talking about how private terminals had "changed him as a person," while Luke kept trying to figure out how many free sodas he could legally take from the SUV cooler before someone stopped him. Claire occasionally corrected the GPS even though Jack's driver clearly knew where he was going, and Alex somehow managed to read an entire chapter of her book despite the noise around her.
Haley barely paid attention to any of it.
She stayed curled up beside Jack in the backseat with her hand resting in his the entire ride. Every once in a while, she would glance over at him.
Jack noticed every single time.
At one point, he looked down at her and smiled faintly. "You keep staring at me."
Haley didn't even try denying it. "You were gone for months. I'm making up for lost time."
"That explains why you almost tackled me at the airport."
"You spun me twice," she pointed out.
"You deserved both spins."
Haley laughed quietly and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I missed this."
Jack rested his cheek lightly against the top of her head for a second. "Yeah. Me too."
"Arg! Don't start making out again in the back seat," Alex mumbled.
Outside the window, Miami rolled past in flashes of sunlight, palm trees, ocean glimpses, and modern buildings that looked almost too clean to be real. The closer they got to the resort, the more expensive everything started looking.
Luke stared out the window. "Hey, Dad, look, that cat is wearing a diamond necklace."
Phil looked out. "Haha. That dog is wearing sunglasses back there... How cool is that?"
"That cat probably owns property," Alex muttered without looking up from her book.
Eventually, the SUV turned through a large gated entrance lined with tall palms and fountains. The resort stretched across the waterfront like a private island disguised as a hotel. White stone walkways curved through tropical gardens, and the glass walls reflected the ocean behind them.
"This is a new resort," Claire said as she looked at the building. It wasn't the one they stayed at the first time.
"Yeah, this one's my mom's resort. She designed everything from exterior to interior," Jack replied.
Phil grinned. "Oh, this place has robe energy."
The SUV rolled to a stop beneath the entrance canopy. Staff members moved forward almost instantly to help with luggage while the doors opened one after another.
Jack stepped out first, then Haley got out. The warm Miami air hit immediately, softer than Los Angeles and heavier with salt from the ocean nearby.
Haley looked up at the resort and blinked once. "Okay… wow."
Jack smiled a little at her reaction. "You like it?"
"This looks like somewhere celebrities hide after breakups."
The staff carried the luggage inside.
Phil climbed out behind them and looked around dramatically. "If anyone needs me, I'll be chilling by the pool."
They started toward the lobby together, passing through large glass doors into a cool marble interior filled with soft music and quiet conversations. Huge windows overlooked the water outside, and the entire place smelled faintly like citrus and expensive candles.
The moment the staff noticed Jack walking in, the atmosphere shifted slightly.
A few employees straightened almost instantly, while one of the managers approached with a polite smile already prepared.
"Welcome back, Mr. Preston," the manager said warmly. "Your mother already had everything prepared."
Jack nodded politely. "Thanks, Milton."
Milton gestured toward the elevators. "Your suites are ready. We already moved the luggage upstairs."
One guy dressed as a butler was waiting near the elevator to show them their suites.
Phil blinked. "So fast?"
"Yes, sir. Please enjoy," Milton said with a polite nod. "And if you need anything, use the phone in your suites. Our butlers are available 24/7."
"Sweet!" Phil said with a grin. Then he extended his hand toward Milton. "And thank you, Milton, for taking care of us."
"My pleasure," Milton shook his hand.
"By the way, do you guys have those tiny golden burgers and pink-looking drinks? I always wanted to taste them," Phil asked.
"Yes, sir. Would you like me to send it to your suite?" Milton asked.
"Can I have it by the pool?"
"Of course. Just give us a call before leaving, and we'll have it ready."
A few early guests were already sitting near the lounge area with drinks in hand.
Dakota sat curled slightly into one of the chairs, wearing a loose white shirt over denim shorts, sunglasses resting on top of her head, while she laughed at something Elle had just said. Elle was wearing a yellow sundress. Beside them, Willa leaned back comfortably with a mocktail in one hand, dressed casually in black jeans and a fitted cream top.
The moment Dakota looked up and spotted Jack, her entire expression brightened.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up," she called out with a grin.
=
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