Lyrics of a Small Town

I put the letter back in the box and tucked the box in the closet. This was all something I would deal with, just not today. Possibly not this week.

When I walked back into the living room, the door opened and Saul walked inside.

“Door wasn’t locked,” he pointed out with a scowl.

“It’s day time,” I replied.

“You’re here alone.”

I shrugged. “So?”

Saul went over to the sofa and sat down. “Come here, Henley.”

He liked to make demands and oddly enough I liked to obey them. I had never liked being told what to do. Even as a child I would act out when I felt I was being forced. With Saul, it was different.

He took my hand and pulled me down onto his lap. “How did the cookbook delivery go?” he asked.

“I have no other siblings if that’s what you’re asking.”

He grinned and laid his head back on the sofa to look at me. “That’s a positive.”

“How is Lily?” I asked him.

“She didn’t get drunk or high today and there was no cursing when I took her to the AA meeting.”

“That’s good,” I replied.

“Definitely could have been worse,” he agreed. “What’s your favorite movie?” The change in subject threw me as did the number of words he had spoken. So many words was very unlike Saul.

“That’s a hard question. I have a few that are all tied for first place,” I told him.

“And they are?”

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bucket List, and Fried Green Tomatoes.”

He let out a burst of laughter. “That’s a fucking weird top three.”

I slapped his arm. “No, it’s not!”

He cocked one eyebrow. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer?”

I shrugged. “It’s a classic.”

“Fried Green Tomatoes? How old are you again?”

I laughed this time. “Fine. I’m weird.”

He slid a hand around my waist. “I’m almost scared to ask your favorite song. Is there a top three for that too?”

“Nope!” I replied.

“What is it?”

“There’s a top five,” I told him.

He laughed out loud again and all was right with the world. Saul laughing and smiling was becoming less rare.

“What are they then?” he asked.

I shook my head no. “Not after you laughed at me.”

His hand slid up my shirt and began to caress my back. “Come on. I want to know.”

“‘My Church’ by Maren Morris, ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ by George Jones, ‘Irreplaceable’ by Beyonce, ‘If I Knew’ by Bruno Mars, ‘Rockstar’ by Nickelback.”

Saul pressed his lips together as if he was trying not to laugh.

“Those are great songs!” I told him. “Epic songs!”

“‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ is a great song. But ‘Rockstar’? Really? Come on, it’s Nickelback.” He was smiling and that was all that mattered. He could hate my music.

“You are judgmental,” I informed him. “What’s yours?”

“Movies or songs?”

“Both,” I replied.

He didn’t even take a moment to think about it. “Fight Club and ‘Stairway to Heaven,’” he said.

“How old are you?” I shot back at him.

“Fucking ancient,” he replied.

“Will you ever play your guitar for me?” I asked him. He never mentioned it but it was always there in his room. I knew he played it when he was alone. Drake had told me so.

“Maybe,” was his one word response then his smile faded and his expression got serious. “Kiss me,” he said.

I bent my head and cupped his face and did just that. Saul shifted me in his lap and I straddled him so it was easier. We kissed softly at first, but when his hands moved under my shirt and covered my breasts, it became more intense. This was a reason to stay. He was a reason to stay. I didn’t think I could leave him. Not anymore. Maybe if I hadn’t allowed myself to sleep with him or maybe if I hadn’t made him smile. Possibly then I could have left, but I was kidding myself if I thought I could leave.

Needing to know and no longer able to give it time, I broke the kiss and looked at him.

“What happens when summer is over? When it’s time for me to go?” I asked him breathlessly.

“I’m working on making sure you don’t,” he replied without thought.

“That I don’t what?” I asked, needing to be sure I understood him correctly.

Saul leaned close to me and brushed a kiss on my cheek. “That you don’t go, Henley.”

His words were all I needed. There was no longer a question about my leaving. There was just a lot of sorting out of my future now. I had to close out my life back in Chattanooga. Right now, though, none of that mattered. All I cared about was that I was here with Saul.

Later that night, when Saul was asleep, I turned my head to watch him. He was so peaceful like this. His breathing had slowed and I was so tempted to touch him but didn’t want to wake him. Things had changed for me and so very quickly. The first day when he had stepped out of his truck, if I had known we would lead to this, I wasn’t sure I would have stayed.