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“We were swiether, naked, under a waterfall Water That’s sex, right?”

He released my hand The mattress shifted He shook out the blanket and covered my body

I heard the shower running as I lay in the dark, feeling pent-up and tearful and unresolved I dozed, waking to Joe’s hand touching my hair

“I’ now, Lindsay”

I reached up and put my arms around his neck, and we kissed in the dark

I said, “Have a good trip Don’t forget to write”

“I’ll call”

It was all the wrong tone to let Joe leave on this cool note The front door closed The locks clicked into place

I bolted out of bed

I dressed in jeans and one of Joe’s sweaters, ran barefoot out into the hallway I pressed the down button at the elevator station, one long push until the car made the climb back up to the eleventh floor and jumped open

I despaired as the elevator dropped s were in the trunk, the carup speed as it headed toward the airport

But when the elevator finally released lass front doors, standing beside a Lincoln sedan I blew past the door Joe’s name

He looked up and opened his arainst him, pressed my face to his jacket, felt the tears slip out of my eyes

“I love you so much, Joe”

“I love you, too, Blondie”