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“Don’t worry about me.” I stepped back, opening my arm to let her pass and ignoring the worry that crossed her delicate features. “Ladies first.”
Annie’s lips pressed into a small smile as she planted two hands on the ladder. Before hoisting herself up, she looked at me over her shoulder. She moved up two rungs, and I appreciated the faded band T-shirt she had knotted at her waist and the way her flowery skirt billowed in the soft breeze. In a few more steps, I’d have a hell of a view.
Annie tucked her hand beneath her bottom to keep from shoving her butt in my face, and I bit back a smile. She looked back at me. “Hey, no peeking.”
I averted my eyes. “You’re the one who wore a skirt.”
“I thought this was supposed to be adate.”
“I am not mad about it, trust me.”
“Just... look somewhere else.”
After some very unladylike sounds, Annie finally hauled herself up the worn metal ladder as I followed behind her.
It took hours for the adrenaline to leave my system, but when it did, I was completely drained. I sat next to Annie and sighed. Twilight was just settling over our small town. For long moments, we sat in contented silence.
Her soft voice finally broke the silence. “Are you okay?”
I shrugged to saynot really, then sighed. “I will be.”
“Was it bad?” She quickly shook her head. “You don’t have to talk about it, but I’m here if you ever need to.”
I pulled her hand into mine and placed them both on my lap, staring down at how her long fingers laced in mine. “I was scared.”
I could feel her staring at the side of my face, but I continued to avert my eyes and instead looked out onto our town.
“I was worried we wouldn’t make it or that I wouldn’t find him. When kids are freaked out, they hide in the tiniest, most random places. All I kept thinking was that I was going to be too late.”
“But you weren’t.”
“Not this time.” Like it often did, my mind flipped back to Margo and how even though I was the first on the scene, I was too late to save her. Somewhere along the line, anyone in trouble became a glaring reminder of how I had failed her.
Hot tears burned behind my eyelids. With a thumb and forefinger I swiped them away and cleared my throat with a grunt. With the adrenaline crash came a rush of emotion, for me, often in the form of tears. I was used to being alone when that happened, but there was something comforting about having Annie with me when I finally fell apart.
I knew in my bones she would never turn away from me.
“When I was in Afghanistan, I’d get scared and repeat over and over,My heart is always with you.” Annie stayed silent next to me. “It was something she wrote. Said it reminded her of a poem she’d read once. Another thing she didn’t seem to remember when I got home, but at the time, it was something that had made an impact for me. It wasn’t just those words, but the fact I could think about everyone I loved back home. Even in the worst times, I could find a way to feel connected.”
“Lee.” Emotion was thick in Annie’s voice. “Do you remember, um, in the letters...” Annie was holding back tears.
Shit.
I hadn’t meant to upset her. “Hey.” I turned my torso toward her, shifting to spare my tender ribs, and brushed her curls behind an ear before holding her face in place. “I don’t wanna think about that or talk about it right now. Can we just sit here for a few minutes?”
She swallowed. “Okay.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
In the quiet evening, as the sun set over the waters of Lake Michigan, I had an overwhelming need to be surrounded by her. To bury myself deep inside and get lost in the comfort of Annie.
I didn’t want to think about scared little boys, horrific house fires, or the tangled-up feelings I was having for the one person who should be totally off limits.
Annie was my best friend, but I wanted nothing more than to be consumed byher.
The first boom of a firework startled us both. Annie sucked in a gasp as a riot of yellow and purple burst in front of us. Being on top of the water tower gave us a perfect view of our town’s impeccable fireworks show in the distance.
With every blast, Annie’s face was illuminated briefly in a soft glow before being shadowed once again by darkness. I watched her worry shift to joy as she watched the fireworks, and light danced in her eyes.
I breathed her in, and the anxiety and stress of the day melted away.
