Page 36 of Resurrect Me

“It’s me who lost YOU, remember? And I don’t see the difference in what we’ve already been through together and what could possibly happen in the future.”

“There’s a huge difference. You put yourself in that situation, and I got you out of it. I can’t knowingly bring you into the fold and be the one responsible for putting you back in harm’s way.”

“I put myself in that situation? Did I ask to be abducted? If it wasn’t for you, they would have never known about me in the first place.”

“Let’s meet up. We’ll continue this conversation face to face.”

Which means he’s worried about putting too much out there over text. Perfect. And I got my way.

“Meet me where we had our first date,” he types. “Oh…and can you bring some photos of the kids?”

I beam as I recall I have new school pictures of the kids on the kitchen counter. I head home, grab two wallet-sized photos, then head to the old Drive-in theater at the edge of town.

Fifteen minutes later, and I’m rolling into the parking lot of Dave’s Drive-in. The pavement is crumbling, and the giant screen is ripped in multiple places. Sad to see an iconic site like this one abandoned and forgotten. I park the car and get out, quietly close my door, and scan the parking lot for any sign of life. I don’t see Aris’s truck. Or Aris, for that matter.

Then I remember. We didn’t just have our first date at the Drive-in, we had itbehindthe screen. Sure, we watched most of the movie…I think it was Scream 2. But spent the latter half of it making out in the woods behind the projection. Aris, who was Solomon then, said it was the best place for privacy. Too many people we knew had parked all around us.

I wrap my arms around my body when a cold breeze blows by and then take my time walking to our spot. I get the sense that someone is watching, so I grip my keys between my fingers. I’m ready for anything.

Hoping it’s Aris, I peek around the corner of the screen and catch movement in the shadows of the large oaks. I inch forward andtuck my hair behind my ear. I bring my keys up to punching level. I’ve had too many things jumping out at me from the shadows lately to ignore my instincts.

“Aris?”

He eases out from the shadows, and I exhale. I drop my fists to my sides and relax a little.

Aris is wearing all dark clothing…as usual. But this time, a hoodie isn’t covering his body. I can see every line of his musculature. He wears a charcoal henley, which hugs his biceps and shoulders in all the right places. And a pair of fitted black jeans. And, most importantly, this time he dons no mask. He approaches me with outstretched arms.

“Hi, Babydoll,” he says, pulls me in, and lifts me in the air. Then squeezes me tightly against him. I inhale slowly, as the scent of moss and spruce envelope me. I can’t tell if I’m smelling the forest we’re standing beside or Aris. I bury my nose in the crease of his neck. Aris does the same. And I realize that warm, earthy aroma is him.

I land on my feet and peer around again. “Where’s your truck?”

“It’s hidden. In the woods,” he says. “Can’t be too careful.”

“Why aren’t you wearing a mask, if you’re that concerned?”

He reaches into his back pocket and removes a black mask with a skeleton face. “I’ve got one. I’m not an idiot.”

“That’s debatable,” I say and snort.

“Be nice,” he says and pinches my hip playfully.

I’m not sure if it’s the weather or his touch, but I get goosebumps from the top of my head that shoot down my legs.

We stare into each other’s eyes, allowing the world around us to fade away, allowing our hearts to speak in the silence. My frustration and anger towards him, for leaving me and the kids, for everything…just dissipates.

I reach up and touch the new gray streak in his ebony hair. “I didn’t notice this the other night.”

He grabs my hand and holds it to his chest.

“It was dark. And I had a mask on…for at least half of the night. Speaking of…did you know it was me the whole time?” He asks and tilts his head to the side.

I debate my answer to his question. If I say I didn’t know it was him, it might hurt him that I would fuck someone else. If I say that I did know…

“Yeah, I knew. You’re not the greatest at disguises.”

“Great. If you figured it out, I’m sure others will,” he says and pulls the skeleton mask over his head. His green eyes reflect the sunlight and draw me in further.

I frown. “I miss your face.”

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