A Five-Minute Life

Please let it be the right choice.

I opened my eyes. “Throw them away.”

Jimmy nodded and did as I asked, then came back to me. He slipped out of his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders, then put his arms around me again, my back to his front, his chin resting on my shoulder. I held his arms and tried to capture the feel of him, his breath on my cheek and his strong body shielding me. Embedding his molecules into me. Indelible and unforgettable.

The sunset’s last rays spilled between New York’s buildings and the sky became bruised and beautiful.

I turned in Jimmy’s arms and let my eyes fall closed. Inhale. Exhale.

“I’m ready.”

Chapter 35

Thea

We went back to the hotel so I could shower and change

.

“What about Delia?” Jimmy asked.

“I can’t talk to her yet,” I said. “Would you mind calling her?”

“What do I tell her?”

“Tell her I took the meds today, but I won’t take any more. We’re going to have one more night here and head back tomorrow.”

“Anything else?”

“No,” I said. “Not yet.”

I had plenty to say to my sister, but tonight was for Jimmy and me.

I showered and pulled on the pretty white sundress I bought with Rita at the mall. It was wrinkled from being smashed in the bottom of my backpack, but I’d hung it up in the bathroom when we checked in so the steam from our showers could smooth it.

“What do you think?” I asked.

Jim sat at the foot of the bed, phone in hand. His heavy gaze swept over me. “You’re beautiful.”

“I bought it for you. I told Rita I wanted to put it on just so you could rip it off me.”

“Oh yeah?”

“She didn’t tell you? Good. She kept the girl code.”

Jimmy’s smile faded. I stood between his knees and brushed my fingers through his hair. “We have tonight,” I said. “So, let’s really have it, okay?”

He nodded, and I kissed him softly, then headed back to the bathroom mirror to finish getting ready. “You talked to my sister?”

“She wants you back now. Even offered to pay for a flight.”

“What did you tell her?”

“Thanks, but no thanks. She’ll see you soon enough.”

“Good answer.”

I put on a little mascara and perfume and brushed my hair until it fell in soft waves over my shoulders. Jimmy was darkly handsome in black.