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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
