Page 15 of Snow Good to Lose
She lifted her head and looked around. She had a far-off look on her face like she was warring with herself.
“Amari.”
I got no response.
“It’s all right, baby.” I raised my voice. “Look at me.”
“No.” She shook her head. “This isn’t happening. How did they find us?”
“Baby, I don’t know, but we have to go.” I placed my hands on the top of the car. “We talked about this. We knew this could happen, and we planned for it. Nothing has changed.”
She slammed the door and slumped back against the side of the parking structure.
“Nothing’s changed,” she mumbled under her breath.
I secured the tarp back over the truck bed and rounded the vehicle. I stood in front of her.She crossed her arms over her chest, keeping me at a distance.
She refused to look at me.
“Amari?”
“It’s not fair. I’m not ready to leave this. We’ve built so much here, and they are ruining it.” She whined like a child. “They are ruining my life again. I am tired of this.” She dropped her head into her hands. “What about our house and our things? We just let them take it away from us again.” She stood up and dropped her hands to her side. She glared at me, daring me to contradict her. I wasn’t going to disappoint her. I had to speak the truth.
“Baby, this isn’t real. This,” I gestured into the air, “this life is not real.” I placed my hands on her shoulder.
“The house on the beach. The resort. The people we’ve met. The friends we’ve made. None of its real. It was an illusion. We held on to it for a long time, but it’s over. We have to go.” I stepped back and opened her door.
“But, our stuff,” she whispered.
I slammed the door and stepped toward her. My body pressed into her. I rested my hands on the cement wall above her head, trapping her in.
“Nothing.” My voice was calm but firm. She tilted her head up. “Nothing in that house matters. It’s stuff. It can be replaced.”
Tears pooled in her eyes.
“Fuck the stuff, Amari.” I rained in my anger. “The only thing that matters is you and me. I love you with everything in me. I will not let anyone hurt you.”
She lowered her head slowly.
I cupped her face and made her look at me. “You and me.”
A rumble of thunder off in the distance caused both of us to jump. A slight breeze from off the ocean blew through the parking garage. The familiar scent of sea floated around us.It made the situation worse.
I pulled Amari to me and held her tight. Her body stiffened at first, but as I rubbed her back, she melted into me.
“Baby, I am so sorry. You don’t deserve this.” I kissed her cheek.
“I’m sorry too.” She dug her fingers into my back and tilted her head up to kiss me. “It’s not your fault. It still sucks.”
“I know.” I kissed her back. Another clap of thunder exploded. The rain fell. The air grew heavy as the pressure dropped.
“We better go,” she whispered against my skin. I held her for another minute before stepping back and opened her door.
She wiped her face and climbed in. She found a smile, but sadness filled her eyes.
I leaned into the truck and placed my lips on hers. Reassuring her we were making the right move.
The sixth level of the parking garage gave us a spectacular view of the beach. I was going to miss the place.
