A Five-Minute Life

“How did you know I’d be making my escape this morning?

“Rita texted me her plan last night. She didn’t tell you?”

“She failed to mention it.” My cheeks warmed. “I guess she wanted it to be a surprise.”

He smiled one of his rare smiles. “I hope it was a good one.”

“The best.” I tore my gaze from him and looked at the pickup truck behind him. “Where’s your motorcycle?”

“I traded it. I didn’t like the idea of driving from here to Manhattan with you on the back. If you had a seizure—”

“I’m not having seizures, Jimmy,” I said.

He shrugged. “I’m not taking any chances. Besides, if you were behind me the entire time, I wouldn’t be able to…”

“To what?” I asked, moving closer. “See me?”

“Talk to you.”

His words sank into my heart, better than any compliment. The ultimate compliment from Jim Whelan.

“God, this is so much better than my Greyhound bus plan,” I said. “But I can’t ask you to—”

“You don’t need to ask. I’m here.”

My eyes stung at his quiet humility. I didn’t know how to thank him for everything he’d done for me. I knew I’d burst into tears if I even tried. I glanced around, blinking hard, struggling to find something to say.

“You sold your motorcycle for me?”

“Yesterday.”

“Right after you were fired?”

He nodded.

“You lost your job because of me, so you traded your beloved motorcycle for this truck?”

The truck was old with a dented fender and scratches in the paint, which meant Jim took a loss on his bike, probably in order to sell it fast.

“I was fired because I broke the rules,” he said. “But yes to everything else.”

I threw my arms around him. He held me close, my feet dangling off the ground, and my body reacted instantly. Every part of me wanted every part of him.

He’s it. He’s what I want. In every way.

“Thank you,” I whispered against his neck, which was wet with my tears. “I should say it a hundred times…”

“Don’t,” he said into my hair. “You don’t have to.”

I slid down the length of his body until my feet touched the ground but left my hands around his neck. I brought one to his cheek, my thumb brushing the corner of his mouth.

“Jimmy…”

He stiffened in my arms.

“What’s wrong?” I sniffed a laugh. “You don’t want to kiss me anymore? Granted, I’m a little snotty right now, but that’s your fault.”

“I… That’s not what this trip is about. You don’t owe me anything.”