Page 32 of Chasing Fireflies

“But we’re in the bed.”

“True. What if I need to go to the bathroom, though?”

“I’ve got a flashlight in my nightstand. You can put it on your side.”

“You’re going to let me have your flashlight?” she says, grinning.

“I’d let you have anything you want if it was always up to me.” I grab her naked behind and pull her on top of me.

“Will you ever get tired of me?” she asks, moving her curls out of her face. I harden beneath her, and when I move she sucks in air.

“Never,” I tell her as I move again just to hear her moan.

“Promise?” she breathes.

“Promise, promise,” I say as the rain starts to fall outside, and I love her all over.

Chapter Ten

Cash

The wind blows, and I look over at Sara as she rests her eyes. We are lying in the big field on a blanket, and the sun shines down on us. It’s not hot, though. It’s perfect today, and my eyes look at the scar on her wrist. I lightly grab her hand, and she opens her eyes. I press my lips to her scar, and she bunches her brow.

“Please don’t ever do this again,” I ask her, staring at her blue eyes.

“I’ll try not to.”

“I need you to swear it.”

“I swear.”

I search her face to see if she believes the lie she just told me. Even I know that’s something she can’t promise. Sometimes people lose the battle of depression. I just pray it won’t be us. I don’t know how I’ll survive myself. I drop her hand, and she moves closer to me, wrapping her arm around my stomach. I roll over, and she lays her head on my chest. I lift my hand and lightly run it through her curls, glancing up at the vast, light blue sky. I hear a car and look out to the road. It looks like Debbie’s, and I curse under my breath. “Looks like we have company,” I say to my wife. She turns her head and sighs.

“What is she doing here?”

“I don’t know,” I reply as I stand up. “Come on.”

“Can’t we just hide out here?”

I laugh. “No, baby. She drove a good ways. Let’s play nice.”

She pushes up off her stomach and stands. I grab the blanket and shake it out as we walk toward the house.

*

“Hey, Mom,” Sara says as we walk up to the porch. I see Walter, too, and I shake his hand.

“Walter, how are you doing?”

“Good, son. How are you?”

“Doing fine, thank you.”

“Where did you two come from?” Debbie asks.

“We were just enjoying the sun,” she says, giving her mom a hug.

“It’s too hot to be out here.”

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