Page 124 of Rugger: The Huntress

Chills ran up and down my spine, making my body tingle all over. The silence surrounding the sound of the sax intensified each note it produced.

Time will never wait on us.

But it never can age our love.

Gazelle’s foot grazed my leg. Back and forward, she rubbed it letting me know she was here. She could hear every word I spoke through the music. And, those jumbled thoughts we shared were arranging themselves well. The fog was clearing and the fear was fleeing.

The prize you’ll find a lover and a friend.

Baby I’ma love you like stan, stan, stan,

Ah man.

Until every lyric of the song had circulated through my brain and the sax, I played. And, when the song came to an end, Ihated it more than the words that were at the tip of my tongue. I lowered my instrument onto the floor beside the bed.

Gazelle patted the pillow next to her. I filled it instantly. Her lips pressed into mine the second my head hit the pillow. When she pulled back, she stared down at me.

“Sometimes?” She whispered.

“Now.”

I was no stranger to the sax. It was my instrument of choice as a kid and I hadn’t wanted to put it down since I picked it up at the age of five. My mother had taught me how to play. Since her death, it wasn’t often I felt it in my hands. Between my fingers. Against my lips.

“That was beautiful.”

“I have an assignment,” I confessed. “I’ll be gone for seven days.”

I could hear her heart shatter in her chest. I closed my eyes, silently promising to never administer whatever level of disappointment I’d just unleashed again.

Rugger’s silence was telling. She was attempting to remain neutral about the news because she understood my line of work better than anyone else, yet she was feeling things. Big things. Bold things.

“Say something–” I encouraged as a sigh released hot air from my mouth and nose.

“Make it back to me. That’s all I ask. That’s all I’ll ever ask. Make it back to me.”

“You won’t ever have to worry about that, love. I’ll always make it back. You’ve given me every reason to.”

“Good,” she yawned.

She scooted closer and placed her head on my chest. I lowered my arm onto her shoulder.

“Get some rest,” she demanded.

“You first.”

My fingers slid up and down her arm at a snail's pace. Though I hated the idea of leaving Rugger behind for an entire week, I was well aware that she would in the blink of an eye. She was dedicated to her craft. So was I, but she made shit a little more complicated. A little less exciting. A lot more of an inconvenience.

Her breathing altered, assuring me that I could finally rest. I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would find me. It wasn’t long before it did.

I stepped into the hotel room with the brown sack in my hand. The deli sandwich had taken me a full day to hunt down but I was hoping it was worth the search. Two bodegas in the area had proven that an underwhelming deli sandwich was truly possible.

I was midway through my assignment and the perfect combination of meat, cheese, and toppings were detrimental to the success of my operation. It was almost as important as the rifle itself.

I sat the bag on the table and began to undress. Sandwiches were best after a few hours, when the sauces, seasonings, and topping had marinated and combined for a spectacular collaboration.

Stripped down to my briefs and socks, I entered the bathroom. I twisted the knob on the shower to warm the water. The day had been long and the night would be even longer. A deep cleanse was necessary before the work officially began.

My reflection halted all movement. Staring back at me was a man who was almost unfamiliar. Though he resembled the oneI’d grown to know over the years, his eyes were different. His skin was different. His stance was different. His arm…it was different.

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