Page 28 of Chasing Fireflies

“We don’t have a drinking problem,” they both say at the same time, which tells me that’s exactly what they have.

“Right,” I counter, looking at empty bottles. “Do I need to take one of you in so you can cool off?”

“No,” they both say.

“Well, I need you to make up then right here, right now.”

“We can’t do that with you watching!” Elizabeth says.

“I mean, say you’re damn sorry, so I can get on my way.”

“Oh, right.” She blushes, and Joe smiles at her.

“You’re always cute when you blush.”

This makes her blush more. I step toward the door, and she puts the pillow down.

“I’m sorry for calling you a dummy,” she says.

“I’m sorry for getting the cable cut off.”

I don’t hear the rest as I shut the door and head back to my truck. I look over at Ben when I get in. He spits a sunflower seed out the window.

“How’d it go?” he then asks me as he pours more seeds into his mouth.

“I’m sure we’ll be called back over here in a few days,” I answer. He smirks, and I start the truck.

*

A green hat comes into view as I pull up to our house. It’s late afternoon, and the sun is low, but my sunshine is watering her sad flowers. I park the truck and jump out.

“Hey, baby,” she says, tossing the water hose to the side. She runs over to me, and I catch her when she jumps into my arms. She kisses my mouth, and I breathe her in––warm sunshine and water hose water. She lets go of my lips and smiles down at me. “How was your day?”

“Better now,” I tell her. She laughs, and I walk us over to the waterspout, shut the water off, and climb the steps with her still in my arms. She takes her hat off and throws it onto the couch as we pass it.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Away,” I say.

“Away?” she questions on a laugh.

“Yes, under the covers and deep inside our bed.”

She smiles. “As long as I’m surrounded by you, I don’t care.”

*

Sara walks out of the bathroom in a pale green dress and wedges. “How does this look?”

“You look good.”

She has on makeup, and her eyes shine bright. She looks beautiful, and I kiss her cherry-colored lips.

“Let’s go dancing,” she says.

*

Music from the band plays from the stage, and Sara grabs my hand and twirls around me. She joins our fingers and laughs as she dances. Her curls are wild, and her smile is infectious. I grab her close to me, and she puts her hands on my face, kissing me like no one is here, like we are the only ones on Earth. Her hands move to my hair, and she slowly runs over it, smiling at me like I’m the only thing that matters. I feel it in my chest, and I love the light in her eyes.

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