Page 133 of The Space Between
Where are you?
Gruene
Do I need to come get you?
I pause.
Then, I type back.
Me
I need a minute.
Just to breathe.
I’m okay.
I’ll be home soon. Promise.
Three dots blink.
Then, they stop.
A minute later his text comes through.
Gruene
Okay.
But if you’re not back by sunset, I’m coming to find you.
A smile breaks across my lips.
Even now, even after everything… he makes me feel.
I drive homewith the windows down and the air thick with the scent of cedar, oak, cypress, and sunbaked asphalt.
The sky is high and pale and hot. My blouse sticks to my back. I roll my shoulders and try to shake off the heaviness of the day but when I pull into the gravel lot between our cabins, I see him, leaning against the front of his truck.
His hat is pulled low. His arms are crossed and resting on the hood. He’s waiting, just… waiting… for me.
I step out of the car. He doesn’t move. Neither do I.
Until I finally blurt out “You love me.”
I just need to hear it. Again.
He nods once. “I do.”
“I love you back.” I reply.
The corner of his mouth lifts. “I know.”
Silence stretches but I told my arms over my chest. “You gonna say something else?”
He straightens and takes one step forward. Then another. And another.. until we’re face to face… until I can feel the heat rolling off of him like fire. “What do you want me to say?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Just… something.”
