Mostly because it reflects
contemporary reality. No,
I think I’ll stick to steady
relationships for as long
as they might reasonably
last. No promises. No “I do’s.”
No contributing to global
overpopulation. Now or ever.
LONG BEFORE
Any Thanksgiving meal at all, a volley
of snores—Dad’s and Kortni’s—
chase me down the narrow hallway.
I slip out the front door, into the bite
of November, early morning. A day
without seeing Kyle? Not going to
happen. The rutted dirt challenges
my bare feet, but somehow I manage
the short jog. He’s there. Parked.
Waiting. Of course he is. I barely
have the door yanked open and
we are kissing. Come up here.
He pulls me into the truck and into
his arms without our mouths unlocking.
Lip to lip, he manages, Damn, I love you!
I slide my arms around his neck,
pull my head back so I can plunge
into the aqua deep of his eyes.
There’s something
swimming there,
in the dark pools of his pupils.