Urban Climber 2 by S.V. Hunter Page B

time, the devil still affects you.”
     
    I glance over my shoulder, watching as Ash disappears, weaving and winding through the traffic. “More than you could ever know. It’s so bad.”
     
    “What do you want him to do?”
     
    I shrug.
     
    “Fight for you? Save you?”
     
    “No. Of course not. Well … maybe? Shit, I don’t know, okay? I just don’t know.”
     
    “But you’re still crazy about him, aren’t you?”
     
    I nod. “Yeah, so crazy I feel like I need to take something or see someone.”
     
    “So what happened?”
     
    “I grew up.”
     
    He laughs. “Grew up? By how much, exactly? You don’t look any taller.”
     
    I roll my eyes. “It’s not just about me anymore. I’ve got to do the right thing. It’s not all about me.”
     
    “You’re making no sense.”
     
    “Why does it even matter, anyway?” I grumble. “I don’t even know what Ash and I had.”
     
    “Meaning?”
     
    “What was I to him? Sex? Love? Lust? What was it all about?”
     
    He smirks at me. “Why do you have to know? Just ‘cause we don’t understand every tiny thing that happens when we flick on a light switch doesn’t mean we should live in darkness for the rest of our lives.”
     
    I wrap my arms around him and squeeze as tightly as I can. “Thanks for this year.” My voice cracks. “I’m really gonna miss you.”
     
    “Me too.” He smiles, pushing through the door of the lecture theater. “But don’t worry, I’ll see you at the wedding, baby. It’ll be here faster than you know it.”
     
    “Yeah,” I whisper, “that’s what I’m afraid of.”

TEN
     
    December 24th
     
    The moment I slip through the back door of the old wooden house, it feels like home. It is home—and it’s like nothing has changed. I pause a moment, noticing the familiar creak of the floorboard beneath my foot. How strange that such a small thing can make me smile so much. I lift my head up, breathing in the warm, scented air. Oh my, the smell of chocolate and chestnuts roasting. It sure is Christmas time, and this year I think it’s gonna mean more to me than all the others combined.
     
    “Mom? Dad?” I call out. “Anyone home?”
     
    “It can’t be. Not our little poppet!”
     
    I giggle, hearing Mom’s slippers shuffle across the painted floorboards. “Laura!” she squeals, popping her head around the doorframe. “Oh my goodness. Is that really you?”
     
    “Yup!” I smile widely, opening my arms. “Just in time for—”
     
    “Christmas!” Her eyes fill with tears. “I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to see you. It feels like a lifetime.”
     
    “Doesn’t it?” I whisper, my chin beginning to shake as I wrap my arms around her.
     
    “I didn’t think you were coming home until the wedding.”
     
    “I couldn’t wait, Mom. I couldn’t wait a minute longer to see you both. Christmas without family is just not Christmas at all. It’s my favorite time of year.”
     
    “Ours too.” She hugs me tighter. “More than you’ll ever know. We got the greatest gift when we found you.”
     
    I shake my head. “Don’t start, or I know I’ll completely lose it.”
     
    She grins broadly, wiping a tear from her eye. “Looks like I already have.”
     
    “Where’s Dad?”
     
    She laughs. “Where do you think?”
     
    “Tinkering?”
     
    “Yes,” she laughs again. “In the garage, doing what he does. I swear, one of these days he’s going to build something that flies us all to another planet.” Thinking about the flight back home with Hugo, leaving Earth wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
     
    “Oh Lord, what’s that awful grey thing doing in the driveway? It’s like a hearse, you know. I’ve never liked it.” I smile to myself, watching as Mom peers out the kitchen window.
     
    “Oh, come on now, it’s not that bad, is it? They are very safe vehicles.”
     
    Her lips turn down. “And why does he need so many cars anyway?” I shrug. Her guess is as good as mine.