Page 75 of Chasing Fireflies

“Falling in love with you was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he whispers.

“How can you say that?” I ask. His eyes dart to mine.

“Because it’s true. You’re my crazy heart.” He searches my eyes and looks down at my lips. Grasping the back of my neck, he pulls me to him and presses his lips to mine. He kisses me hard and backs me up against the piano, causing me to hit the keys. He grabs my leg and lifts it up around his waist as I rest my hands back on the old wood.

Pulling away, he looks down at me. “Come home with me,” he says, and I do. I leave my records on the floor and go home with my husband, because falling in love with him was the best thing that ever happened to me, too, and I love that I’m his crazy heart.

*

I’m lifted up as we enter our home and Cash carries me up the stairs. Clothes are taken off, and lips are kissed. Skin melts under skin, and sweet words ofI’ll love you foreverare spoken. Cash presses inside me, and I moan. The wind blows the curtains in the bedroom as he loves me. He grabs the headboard, and his teeth graze the skin on my neck. My hands fist the sheets, and sweet flames run up my spine as tingles of pleasure shoot down my thighs as I come.

*

I walk out of the grocery store with two loaded bags. The bottom falls out of one, and half of my crap rolls out onto the sidewalk.

“Dammit,” I curse as I lean down and put the other bag on the ground. I chase an apple that’s rolling, but it gets scooped up before I can grab it. I look up at the person who snatched it and see it’s Cash’s dad.

“Hey,” I say slowly.

“Sara.” He nods and hands me the apple.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Can’t come visit my son and daughter-in-law?” he questions as he leans down and helps me pick up the rest of my spilled groceries.

“Well, yeah, you can, Jack. But you haven’t so…”

“I’m here now. You headed home with all of this?”

“Yes.”

“I’d like to come along if that’s all right.”

“That’s fine,” I say as I walk toward the truck.

*

Cash

I park the cop truck and take a deep breath. I look over at his truck and grip the steering wheel. I wish I would have known he was coming. I would have drunk a few or thrown a couple shots back. It’s been a while since I’ve spoken to my dad, and the last time was about as pleasant as a dog pissing in my shoe. My eyes look forward at the falling sun. Rays of light shine through the trees and make lines on the green cut grass. Dust particles fly around me, and I sigh as I remember back to the last time I spoke to my dad.

“So, you’re moving, huh?”

“Yeah, Dad, we found a house, and we’re buying it.”

“You think that’s a good idea? Taking her away like that?”

“I think it’s best for us both to get away from here,” I say, looking out at the neighborhood I grew up in. Everyone’s house is decorated with Christmas lights, and it hasn’t changed a bit since I was a kid.

“What are you gonna do when she goes through one of her fits and you’re not there?”

“We’ll figure it out,” I answer him. He makes a noise that pisses me off. “It’s obvious you don’t approve of anything I do, so why can’t you just keep your mouth shut? You like fighting?” I ask with a lift of my brow. Crossing my arms, I look ahead and clench my jaw. I see him look over at me in my peripheral. Ice hits the side of the glass as he takes a sip of the amber liquid he holds in his hand.

“You just need to use your head more, boy. You went and got married, without thinking it through, to a person you have to watch twenty-four seven. Now, you’re leaving a good job and buying a house in another—”

I cut him off, “I’ve been with Sara since high school, Dad. What the fuck do you mean, I married her without thinking?”

“Don’t cuss at me, son.”

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