Page 58 of Amy's Santa

“With luck, he’s left town.” Xander might not allow himself to get angry, but I’m certain I hear a touch of that in his voice.

“Goodbye,” he says.

When I try to say it back, he’s already gone.

I’d deleted his number and had then cried.

“Well that’s the last of your shit boxed up.”

Startled out my reverie, I look up and smile. “Thanks, Nathan. You’ve been such a help.” Having gotten to know the man over the past four weeks, it’s not unexpected when he shrugs off the fact he’s dismantled furniture, taken it to storage, and helped get everything in order, patiently waiting for me to decide what to take and what to store or what to give away. When it comes down to it, I won’t be taking a lot.

“Have you finished in here?”

I’m in my living room. The walls are bare except for the boxes stacked against the wall. In my hand is the picture of Drew and I when I was a kid, and he’d taken me yet again to one of my favourite places, the Desert Museum. It’s one I cherish. I slide it into the ‘to take’ box.

“That’s it, I think.” Looking around as I make one last check. I’m not particularly attached to this place, it was a two-bedroom apartment that I could afford to rent, but not one I’d have chosen if I had a choice. But I’ve lived here three years and have mostly good memories except for the last four months.

Nathan’s moved to the window. “Good timing.” He looks around and grins. “Prez is here with the truck.”

As always, my stomach fills with butterflies fluttering around. It’s not nerves, but anticipation. We’ve been apart for a week. But from now on, we’ll be together, forever. It’s a heady thought.

If I hadn’t had the last month to consider what a fool I’d be to turn Drew down, I might have asked myself whether I was doing the right thing. But the time has only strengthened my original yearning to say yes.

A pounding on the door signals his arrival. I run across the room, throwing the door open with no caution.

“Babe,” he admonishes. “Did you even check?”

I roll my eyes. “Nathan saw you arriving, so it was a safe enough bet.”

He peers around me, seeing the place empty and bare. “Fuck, I’m glad you’re coming home. I’ll be able to sleep easier in my bed. Been worried as fuck about you.”

I just shake my head. He’d assigned Nathan to me, he’d done all he could to keep me safe. Nothing was going to happen to me with that big man around. But that’s Drew, and I doubt I’ll ever change him, and don’t believe I want to.

Then, at last, he kisses me deeply, with all the emotion he possesses. I lose myself in him, his lips moving across mine making me feel loved and cherished, even without hearing the words.I’ve missed him.

Nathan gives us a moment, then coughs. I pull away and swing around to see him smirking.

“Just wanted to know whether you want me to start loading up.”

Drew plants a kiss to the tip of my nose before he answers the prospect, “Yeah. Just give me a moment and I’ll help.”

“I will too,” I tell them, being quite capable of carrying boxes myself.

It’s over quickly with the three of us pitching in. Soon the apartment is bare and empty, and in some ways it feels anti-climactic, with no sign that I ever lived here.

Drew interprets my expression as one of regret. Walking over, he smooths my hair back over my shoulders and his stare into my eyes is intense. “I’ll spend my life making you happy, Amy. I won’t allow you any regrets.”

“I don’t have any,” I tell him, “and I don’t expect to. I know what I’m doing is right. It’s just that I’ve been in Phoenix for nine years, and now it’s all gone in a flash.”

He pulls me into him and holds me close. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I give back completely and utterly. But then, I always have.

Then, with one last glance back at my old life, I step into my future.

Nathan’s driving my car behind us, and I’m in the truck with Drew. It seems he can’t bear to be apart from me, even if it will only take two hours.

“Anything new happen on the compound?”

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