Chapter Text
For the past few years Gina and Carlos had been living together in New York, both respectively experiencing success in Broadway. Gina really liked it in New York, she loved her work and was happy to be living with one of her best friends, but she never felt like New York was her home, not like she had felt in Salt Lake City. Somewhere deep down she knew the reason, more like who was the reason New York never felt like home.
EJ and Ashlynn who both were like her siblings had begged her to come visit them in Utah. Ashlynn still lives in Salt Lake City, she was currently working as the drama teacher for East High and Gina could not imagine anyone else for that job. EJ had been living in LA as he had his record company there, but for a week he had been visiting his family in Utah which led to both the Caswell cousins requesting a proper “Caswell reunion”.
Gina could never say no to that especially after they let her stay with them until she finished high school and how they had always made her feel like a family member. She adored both, and she would have visited earlier if it had not been for the fact that a certain curly haired still lived there. So, for the last few years, they have been meeting each other either in New York where Gina is or in LA. Gina is grateful that the two of them never asked why she has been avoiding visiting Salt Lake City until now.
Gina took deep breaths as she got off her plane, she cannot help but instantly think about him. To this day she misses him, he is still the first person she wants to tell good and bad news to, but she can't. They lost touch after he graduated high school, but deep down in her heart Gina knew if she picked up the phone and called him, he would answer. Because Gina Porter would do the same if Ricky Bowen called her.
Gina has been on a few dates, but she never went more than three dates with anyone. Her walls were still high as ever around most people. There was nothing wrong with the guys she dated, but she could not help but compare them to him each time. Gina was aware that was unfair to them, so eventually she gave up dating and told Carlos for now she is not looking for anyone. Carlos like EJ and Ashlynn knew that the unspoken undeclared thing she had with Ricky, the pull she felt towards him would always be in the way for her to find happiness with anyone else other than him.
There have been moments she has been so close to text him when a song plays on the radio that reminds her of him, where Gina has been tempted to call him and ask him how his writing is going. She could be surrounded with all the traffic and noises in New York, but her eyes were always trying to spot him in the crowd.
When EJ hugs her as he sees her in the airport, she ignores the small feeling in her heart that wished that it would have been Ricky who was waiting for her in the airport. What Gina was not aware of was that Ricky had been waiting the last four years for her when he realized he was in love with the one that got away, the one who had always been an almost. Ricky Bowen was madly in love with Gina, would the universe give him a second chance to tell her?