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Authors: Debra Druzy
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neck.”
“I’m not jumping out. I meant drop me at the corner. You can let go of me now.”
He released her with a deflated sigh. “What are we fighting for?”
“I dunno. Let’s just forget it.”
He put the truck in Park. “No. Let’s finish it, now. You hate my job, and you won’t date firemen—I get it. That’s why I haven’t made the effort to see you.” He hesitated, gathering his thoughts, not mentioning how he staked out her place and followed her downtown today. He was tired of wasting precious time with childish games. “Whenever I see you, it makes me wanna see you more.”
“Well…if we’re spilling our guts, the truth is I’ve tried hard to forget you. I thought time and space would get you off my mind, but it didn’t work. Every time I see you, we connect…or maybe it’s just in my head. All this talk about life, and us, and everything…I don’t want to get so far ahead of myself thinking this could go somewhere. Who knows when we’ll run into each other again after today?” She calmed down and put on the seatbelt.
All he got out of her rambling, he summarized in a whisper, “You tried to forget me?”
“Sorry…but, yeah, I did. Let me tell you, it’s not easy.” She bowed her head, shielding her face with the collar of her coat.
“Is it just because I’m a firefighter? Or does it have anything to do with me being so much older?”
“Nick.” She shook her head. “Age is a number.”
“Lily, I’m thirty-six. And you’re—God…you’re not even close.” He shook his head, disgusted by his lustful intentions.
“That doesn’t bother me. I lived through more than most people my age. Twenty-four’s not as young as you think.”
“So, it’s just my job you have a problem with?”
She shrugged. “It’s not that I have… a problem . It’s…it’s hard not to imagine something bad happening in your line of work.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“You don’t have to apologize. That’s not what I’m looking for.”
“Then, what are you looking for?”
“I-I don’t even know any more.” She sighed like there was something else to say.
“You still wanna go home?”
“No.”
That was all he needed to hear as he put the truck in Drive and tore down the road before she changed her mind. He circled around town, killing time, taking the long way up steep hills and down winding roads.
They cruised past the Scenic View Inn, decked out with the most holiday flair, covered with icicle lights, miles of garland, and giant bows.
Coasting past Town Hall and the Center Square, he whispered, “Whoa,” at the sight of the huge Christmas-Star-of-David menorah-tree.
“Pretty, right?” Lily exhaled dreamily.
“Pretty impressive.”
“Turn here.” She pointed to a side street—a private road that didn’t register on his GPS.
Behind wrought iron gates and manicured landscapes, McMansions on the bluff overlooked Scenic View Harbor. Each miniature castle was dressed in full holiday grandeur, more remarkable than the next. Nothing gaudy or over-the-top here. No plastic Santas. No reindeers on rooftops. No inflatable snowmen. Just classy crystal lights like tiny stars outlining the fine architecture.
“Whaddaya think? Nice, right?” She stared out the windshield, while Nick studied her profile in the ambient light.
“ Stunning ,” he breathed.
Lily must have caught him staring from the corner of her eye, because she gave a shy smile with fluttering eyelashes. “Um, if you follow the bend we’ll wind up on Main Street.”
They rode a few miles on North Shore Road until the shopping center was in sight.
The empty parking lot meant one thing—she was right— The. Place. Was. Closed . A few people were setting up chairs in a line at the front door of Child World. Other than them, no one was here.
Lily’s wide eyes spoke volumes: I told you so . She popped a Starlight in her mouth. “Want one?”
Nick shook his head, grinding his teeth on
“I’m not jumping out. I meant drop me at the corner. You can let go of me now.”
He released her with a deflated sigh. “What are we fighting for?”
“I dunno. Let’s just forget it.”
He put the truck in Park. “No. Let’s finish it, now. You hate my job, and you won’t date firemen—I get it. That’s why I haven’t made the effort to see you.” He hesitated, gathering his thoughts, not mentioning how he staked out her place and followed her downtown today. He was tired of wasting precious time with childish games. “Whenever I see you, it makes me wanna see you more.”
“Well…if we’re spilling our guts, the truth is I’ve tried hard to forget you. I thought time and space would get you off my mind, but it didn’t work. Every time I see you, we connect…or maybe it’s just in my head. All this talk about life, and us, and everything…I don’t want to get so far ahead of myself thinking this could go somewhere. Who knows when we’ll run into each other again after today?” She calmed down and put on the seatbelt.
All he got out of her rambling, he summarized in a whisper, “You tried to forget me?”
“Sorry…but, yeah, I did. Let me tell you, it’s not easy.” She bowed her head, shielding her face with the collar of her coat.
“Is it just because I’m a firefighter? Or does it have anything to do with me being so much older?”
“Nick.” She shook her head. “Age is a number.”
“Lily, I’m thirty-six. And you’re—God…you’re not even close.” He shook his head, disgusted by his lustful intentions.
“That doesn’t bother me. I lived through more than most people my age. Twenty-four’s not as young as you think.”
“So, it’s just my job you have a problem with?”
She shrugged. “It’s not that I have… a problem . It’s…it’s hard not to imagine something bad happening in your line of work.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“You don’t have to apologize. That’s not what I’m looking for.”
“Then, what are you looking for?”
“I-I don’t even know any more.” She sighed like there was something else to say.
“You still wanna go home?”
“No.”
That was all he needed to hear as he put the truck in Drive and tore down the road before she changed her mind. He circled around town, killing time, taking the long way up steep hills and down winding roads.
They cruised past the Scenic View Inn, decked out with the most holiday flair, covered with icicle lights, miles of garland, and giant bows.
Coasting past Town Hall and the Center Square, he whispered, “Whoa,” at the sight of the huge Christmas-Star-of-David menorah-tree.
“Pretty, right?” Lily exhaled dreamily.
“Pretty impressive.”
“Turn here.” She pointed to a side street—a private road that didn’t register on his GPS.
Behind wrought iron gates and manicured landscapes, McMansions on the bluff overlooked Scenic View Harbor. Each miniature castle was dressed in full holiday grandeur, more remarkable than the next. Nothing gaudy or over-the-top here. No plastic Santas. No reindeers on rooftops. No inflatable snowmen. Just classy crystal lights like tiny stars outlining the fine architecture.
“Whaddaya think? Nice, right?” She stared out the windshield, while Nick studied her profile in the ambient light.
“ Stunning ,” he breathed.
Lily must have caught him staring from the corner of her eye, because she gave a shy smile with fluttering eyelashes. “Um, if you follow the bend we’ll wind up on Main Street.”
They rode a few miles on North Shore Road until the shopping center was in sight.
The empty parking lot meant one thing—she was right— The. Place. Was. Closed . A few people were setting up chairs in a line at the front door of Child World. Other than them, no one was here.
Lily’s wide eyes spoke volumes: I told you so . She popped a Starlight in her mouth. “Want one?”
Nick shook his head, grinding his teeth on
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