Page 99 of One More Kiss

Hi, you saved my life half a decade ago and I think you're both hot and a great influence for my son. Can I have your number?

Yeah, sure, that definitely won't seem insane.

It seems a little kooky to me and I'm the one having the thoughts.

I'm so wrapped up in my internal monologue that I don't notice him standing in front of me.

"Hey," he greets me quietly.

"Hi," I reply, just as softly.

I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm not sure how I should act. I'm not even sure what I want to say. But something needs to be said.

"A storm is rolling in. We should probably head back to base. You two can wait out the storm there if you'd like. I wouldn't want you driving home in this."

He gestures toward the dark clouds that are gathering in the distance.

Damn it. Caught off-guard by the thought of the day ending, I'm not sure how to dance around the subject any longer. I just need to spit it out. I just need to say it.

"Before we go. I have to thank you."

His brow furrows. "For what?"

"For saving me." The words don't want to come out, but I force them all in one breath.

I swallow the lump in my throat and hope that I don't start to cry. There's no point in getting upset, he might not even remember me.

A thousand emotions cross his face at once. "Wait, what? I'm sorry, I don't..."

"When I was seventeen," I continue. "You saved me. On the top of Marble Falls. I'd..." I trail off, uncertain I should tell him the whole story. "I'd slipped and hit my head on the cliff. You stayed with me until the paramedics came."

It takes a moment of awkward silence before the expression of revelation washes over his face. "Oh wow. Yeah, you'd hit your head pretty good. I, I hadn't thought about that in years."

"Yeah, it was a pretty big deal to me. You were my angel." I give him a small smile and nod my head toward Corbin. "You saved both of us."

He stares at the ground and I think I can just make out a little bit of pink rising to his cheeks. "I'm no angel, Kaylee. I just did what anyone would have done in that situation."

The fact that he thinks that speaks to his level of character. He doesn't even realize how truly good he is.

"I really did need my angel that day." My voice is shaky and my eyes are stinging but I swallow hard and try to hold it together. I'm not going to cry. I won't. I look over and check that Corbin is still preoccupied before I continue. "I was in a bad place. I thought there was no getting past the hell that I was living through. I didn't think I wanted to ever see another day. But then there you were, reminding me that life really can be wonderful. And that in order to survive, I just have to keep looking for that wonder even when it's hard." I try to continue, but I feel like I'm going to lose it.

I didn't really want to tell him all of that, but I wanted him to know why I am so grateful. I wanted to let him know that without him, I'm not sure I'd be where I am now.

"Just," I pause for a split second and take a breath. "Thank you," I whisper.

I don't know if he heard that last part. Because the next thing I know, I feel his strong arms wrapping around me. His large hands rub my back and he pulls me close to him.

I breathe in deeply, taking in his scent. It was the same smell I'd remembered when I was waiting for the ambulance.

"I'm so glad you're safe." He pulls back a little and looks me in the eye. "You've done an amazing job of raising that little guy over there. You've become such a strong, beautiful woman."

His hand slides down to my shoulder and he squeezes softly.

The wind whips around us, pulling at our clothes and hair. In an instant the rain starts to fall in sheets, drenching us in seconds. Lightning flashes overhead, briefly lighting up the darkness.

Corbin lets out a giggle-filled scream and runs over to us, all thoughts of fish and the stream lost.

David lifts his head to the sky and lets the rain fall over his face before he looks down at the two of us with a grin. "Let's get you guys somewhere dry."

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