Page 111 of Small Town Swoo
A new song came on the jukebox, and I recognized the opening lines. “Now I've had the time of my life...” I cocked my head. “Hey. Is this the song from the movie?”
She smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. I know it’s goofy, but it’s one of my good mood songs. And I needed a lift.”
I bent down and grabbed her around the thighs, and when I straightened up, she rose into the air.
“Hey!” Laughing, she thumped my shoulders. “It was just a metaphor! I didn’t mean an actual lift, I meant a mood lift!”
“It worked, didn’t it?”
She grinned down at me. “I guess it did.”
Loosening my grip, I let her slide down my body until her feet touched the floor. “Feel better?”
“Yes.”
I kissed her. “Good. Now let’s get this place closed so I can take you home for some horizontal mambo.”
Back at Ari’s house, we turned off the lights, locked the doors, and went into her bedroom together. We undressed each other slowly. We put our hands and mouths all over each other’s bodies. We breathed one another in. Although we both had to be up early—me to catch a flight and Ari to open the diner—we stayed awake long into the night. No promises were made and nothing was said about tomorrow. She fell asleep in my arms, and I wondered if I’d ever have what we’d shared with anyone else. It seemed impossible.
There was only one Ari.
“I have to go.” Dressed and ready, I sank down on the edge of the bed where she was still lying on her side, her head resting on her arm.
“Okay.”
I leaned over and pressed my lips to her shoulder, her cheek, her forehead, and finally her lips. “Thanks for everything.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
I brushed her hair away from her face. “You did lots of things. You listened to me. You inspired me. You created a masterclass in emotional depth with nothing but your television and your taste in incredibly sappy movies.”
“If I’m being honest, that might have been an excuse to spend time in the dark with you.”
“If I’m being honest, you didn’t need an excuse.” Her smile tightened the vise around my heart, and I tugged one of her curls. “Am I finally forgiven for kicking you out of my bed?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God.” More quietly, I said, “I had such a good time with you. The time of my life.”
She laughed a little, even though her eyes were sad. “Our song.”
“Always.” I smiled, rubbing her bottom lip with my thumb. “Are we good, Sugar?”
She swallowed before answering. “We’re good.”
“I’ll call you when I get home.” I rose to my feet.
“Dash?”
At her bedroom doorway, I turned around. “Yes?”
“Will you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
She smiled, but her breath hitched, and she wiped her eyes. “Don’t call me right away, okay? I just need—a little—time.” She struggled to get the words out. “To get past this.”
That vise cinched hard. “I understand.”
