Page 2 of Yuletide Acres

“Absolutely. You’re my everything, D.” I mean it, too. I’ve spent my life not getting attached to people. It’s easier that way—another reason why the festival circuit is such an amazing fit. But all that changed when I met D.

He makes me want things. Things I never dared to hope for before.

“Can we stay here a bit longer?” I ask, my arms tightening around his waist. The man is skinny as a rail, and I’ll bet money his waist is smaller than mine. It doesn’t matter, though, because he is also my safe space.

The only place I feel safe.

“Sure, we can, my Sunshine Girl.”

He gave me the nickname that first day, when the light hit my eyes, turning them a myriad of green and gold. He claimed they held the sunshine, and I was now his Sunshine Girl.

Sunshine and Vitamin D.

We are quite the pair.

And with him by my side, I feel like I can conquer the world.

I settle onto the soft grass, pulling him down next to me. “Make love to me.”

D smiles, his lips grazing mine. “I ran out of condoms.”

“It’ll be okay,” I murmur, smiling against his mouth. The truth is, we don’t need the condoms. I found out a week ago that I’m pregnant. I just haven’t told D the news yet.

“Although there is nothing in the world I love as much as taking you raw, shouldn’t we be careful? What if you get pregnant?”

“Would that be the worst thing?” I ask, figuring this was as good a segue as any.

“Not the worst thing, no,” Dylan mumbles, and my heart drops at his tone. “Just the worst timing.”

I bite my lip, holding back the tears. I was so excited when I found out about the baby, but it’s apparent that D doesn’t share that sentiment. “We can wait until you get back.”

“I don’t want to wait that long, either. Are you crying, Poppy?”

I nod, wiping my eyes with my fingertips. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll come back for you. I promise.”

I hold out my hand, pinky extended. “Not good enough. Pinky swear.”

He wraps his pinky around mine, bringing them both to his mouth and letting his tongue glide along my skin. “We’re two halves of the same whole. We can’t survive without each other.”

“I know. Do you want me to come with you? New Mexico doesn’t matter. You do.”

“I won’t take that experience from you. Besides, I need you to see it for me. I’ll catch up as soon as I can.”

We walk back to our tent a while later, but my sleep is fitful. The sun is creeping over the hill when I finally doze off, a decision made. I’m leaving tomorrow with D. Even if he says he’s okay, I know that by his side is where I want to be.

But when I awaken, D is gone. Slipped away at some point during the night.

No note. No goodbye.

No way for me to find him or him to find me.

He promised me he would return.

I’m holding him to that.

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