Page 75 of Slashes in the Snow
“Sounds like a plan. Popeye can bartend.”
“All he’s good for is drinking the scotch.”
“He was nice to me,” I explain to him as he places my helmet on my head.
“Yeah, Popeye is a good guy. Known him my whole life. He rode with my dad before the diabetes took his leg.”
“Do you miss him?”
“Miss who?”
“Gerard. Do you miss him?”
Ky chews the inside of his cheek. “He’s my Pops. Of course I miss him. I’ve just been so angry at him I didn’t want to admit it. Hurts too much.”
“He misses you. A lot.” I take his hand. “He would say it all the time. And you could see it on his face at every holiday. He would ask to leave a seat open for you.”
“Shit, Snow.” Emotion bubbles in his voice. “How did this suddenly become about me and my dad?”
“I don’t know. I’m just starting to realize life is short. And so fragile. Fix things with him,” I urge.
“I’m going to,” he promises. “I just need to fix things with you first.”
“I’ll be hiding under the covers until that happens.”
“Naked, I hope.” Ky straddles his bike.
“If that’s how you prefer me.” I slide both my arms around him.
“Always, Snow. Always.”
20
Ky
Kira wasn't kiddingwhen she said she wanted to hide under the covers. I haven’t been able to get her out of bed all day. Not that I have a problem with that, because she’s also been naked all day. I don’t want the situation messing with her mind. I know she told me she hasn’t had an episode in years, and that she’s in a better place, but I can’t help but wonder with everything that’s happening if she’ll digress. After she went to sleep last night, I googledpsychosis and memorized what it is, how it feels, causes, treatments, and therapies. I barely slept a wink, but that doesn’t matter. All I care about is that Kira slept safe and sound. And that she keeps sleeping safe and sound. That she stays safe, period. Mentally and physically. From the moment I met her, this intrinsic desire to protect Kira developed. It just cropped up like a spring flower. I’ve come to learn she’s so fragile. So very fragile. Maybe not on the outside, but inside, her core is delicate. It’s beautiful, like a piece of cut glass, and equally as breakable.
How do you protect something so precious? Do you hide it away from the world? Do you put it in a glass case to look at but never touch? Do you allow it to roam free and hope for the best while expecting the worst?
I just want to do right by her, whatever that may be. Maybe I should just worship her as she walks through life, a sworn disciple. A vowed protector. A pledged soldier. I have the experience for that, at least.
I let the hot water run over my shoulders, washing away the soap as I ponder life. Kira was with me only minutes ago, pinned up against the wall while I fucked her senseless. It’s impossible to keep my hands off her. She’s my sweetest addiction, a love born out of lust. A storm of desire that rises beneath my skin. I want her now, again, even after I just finished having her.
“Ky.” Kira rushes back into the bathroom. Her hair is still wet, but she’s dressed in black leggings and a crop top that shows off her midriff. “Look what I found. Is that you?” She holds up a picture of me from the third grade with a goofy, gap-toothed grin, and the worst bowl cut known to man. I swear my mom was out to make me a virgin for life.
“Where on God’s green Earth did you find that?” I wipe away the water from my eyes.
“The back of your closet. I was looking for my bag. There’s a whole box of stuff.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot that was there.” I sorta had a moment after my dad left and I tore down every picture and memento that reminded me of him.
“You were so cute.” She beams.
“I was a total geek until my dad got his hands on me.”
“There’s pictures of him, too. Get out of the shower. Let’s look.”
“A trip down memory lane. Awesome,” I hum dryly, turning the shower head off. Kira hands me a towel and then bounces out of the bathroom. Someone is way too excited to dig into my past.
