Page 63 of Chasing Fireflies

“Okay, I’ll get an answer from you later then,” she says on a wink.

“I don’t think so,” I reply, smiling as I roll the window back up and step on the gas.

*

“How did the doc go?” Maci asks as I walk into the library. Snow comes in behind me, and I take my scarf and gloves off.

“Same as always. She asked me how I was feeling. I told her some days are better than others. But I’ve been down lately, so she asked more questions and did a few tests. Now I have new medicine.”

“Sounds fun.” She lifts her brow and gives me a smirk.

“The best,” I say. “I saw Leigh walking a dog before I got here. Cute dog.”

“Watch out. She’ll be sending him home with you.”

“She tried to.” I laugh as I walk around the counter and see an envelope from the state prison. I lay my gloves and scarf down and start unbuttoning my coat.

“So, you haven’t said anything about Lucas in a while. You two talk or…?”

“He writes me.”

“I can see that,” I say, looking back down at the letter. She looks, too, and clears her throat. “You writing him back?”

She shrugs and types another book into the computer.

“Why are you being so vague?”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. What’s the deal?”

She sighs. “The deal is, I’m confused, Sara. I love him, and I can’t help it.”

“He treated you like shit, Maci.”

“You don’t think I know that? I lived it, remember?”

I sit down on the stool and bite my lip. She rubs her forehead and looks past the computer.

“You can’t help what your heart feels. I want to hate him. I really do, but it’s easier said than done. I’ve loved that man as long as I can remember, Sara,” she says, glancing over at me. “I can’t just shut feelings like that off. If I could, I would.”

“Okay,” I say, holding up my hands. “But I don’t care what he says. He doesn’t love you.” I point at her. “You do not treat someone you love like that, Maci. You just don’t.” I stand and look over at my friend who has tears in her eyes. With a heavy sigh, I look down. “I care about you, is all. Please…just be careful.”

“I will. Thanks for your concern.”

“Of course. I’m going to check the bucket.” Walking into the restroom, I see the bucket is half full of water, so I pick it up and dump it into the sink. I can’t believe she is second-guessing all of this. Lucas is a complete asshole. I know she loves him, but seriously, he held her at gunpoint. I shake my head and put the bucket back down before I walk out.

Chapter Twenty

Cash

Christmastime has always been my wife’s favorite, and because it’s hers, it’s mine, too. I grab the decorations from out of the attic and place them in the living room.

“Let’s hang some on the outside of the house first, baby.”

“Really?” I ask because I know it’s a damn job.

“Yes, really. It’s not Christmas without lights. Come on,” she says, grabbing the box of lights and setting it beside the door. She puts her coat on and turns to me as she buttons it up. “I can’t seem to get the chill out of my bones in this house. You think we could sleep in the living room tonight near the fireplace?”

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