Fallout (Crank 3)

Hunter

DAMN COLD

For the first weekend in December

the temperature has trouble climbing

to thirty degrees, and the mountains

look like sugar donuts beneath early snow.

I’m up at first light and off to announce

the Sparks Hometowne Christmas Parade.

As I leave, I hear Nikki’s heavy breathing.

Fast asleep, despite my noise. You’ve seen

one parade, you’ve seen them all, she said

last night, when I asked her to come along.

Sleeping in sounds better. Anyway, you’ll

be the star. You won’t have time for me.

Okay, that part is mostly true. When you’re busy

playing celebrity, you don’t have much time

for your tag-along girlfriend. Still, I want her to

be there. I lie down beside her, kiss the warm

pulse at the hollow of her neck. It’s enough

to stir her from dreams. Enough to make me

wish I could stay. “Sure you won’t change

your mind?” I slide my hand beneath the ginger-

scented blankets, find the satin skin of her thigh,

seduce her into that perfect state of not-quite-all-

the-way-awake. “I want you to be there with

me. You’re my good-luck charm, you know.”

Nik smiles. Bet you say that to all the girls.

Now let me go back to sleep. Love you.

“Love you, too.” My hand doesn’t want

to go. But the rest of me has to, so it tags