“You’re crazy!” Kimmy laughed as I twirled her around the small room. “Put me down!”
“Never!” I vowed and then kissed her hard on the mouth. “If I put you down, then I’ll have to pick you up again, and that just seems silly since I want you in my arms forever.”
“Laying it on thick, Parker.” Her eyes twinkled.
“You love it.”
She nodded and laughed again. “It’s you. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Thanks for the song…” she said in a breathless voice. “I love it.”
“Every night.” I vowed. “It should be your lullaby every night. So when you fall asleep, the last thing you think of is me, and when you wake up, I want you to think of us.”
“I like that.” She kissed my cheek.
I set her on her feet and cupped her face. “Kimmy, I’ll always be there for you. You need to know that.”
She nodded, her eyes welling with tears. “I’m afraid we don’t have enough time — like something’s going to happen.”
“Stop…” I pulled her in for a kiss. “Regardless of what happens, it’s you and me. Tell me you believe me. Abandoning you? It’s never going to happen.”
“Thanks, Park.”
“Anything for you Princess, anything for you.”
Rustling and static told me they were taking me off speaker phone. The airy echo sound was gone and the connection was solid again. “Thanks again, Gabe. You know how hard it is on her when she doesn’t sleep.”
“Anytime.” My voice cracked. “After all, I made a promise.” I’d vowed never to abandon her.
That was it.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
There was a reason I lost myself in women — a reason I didn’t do relationships, a reason I closed myself off from the world.
Because the minute you let someone in — they either die — or you kill them — literally. That was my truth. My life.
A girl stepped off the elevator dressed to kill. Her blonde hair was piled high on her head, her makeup so dark she looked like a prostitute.
“Hey…” I licked my lips as the girls head snapped up. “Where you off to?”
“Out.”
I nodded and took a step toward her as the elevator doors opened into the lobby. “Out sounds good.”
“’Kay.” Her eyelashes lowered. “Gabe, right?”
“Right.” I wasn’t surprised. I had a certain reputation.
“So,” she said, as a blush spread across her cheeks, “you can ride with me if you want.”
My body trembled, I was ready to puke all over again. I wanted to run, I didn’t even know where I wanted to run, but running never got me anywhere. Running still made it hurt.
I wanted to lose myself.
“How about…” I gripped her hand. “…we hang out for a bit and then we’ll decide when the riding takes place?”