Chapter 13: Build A Fire

I stood at the bus stop, waiting for the next ride to Zuzu City. I didn't expect Pam to be working the night shift after Abigail's party – especially if Zanna's observation about the punch was accurate – but somebody had to come by. A cold wind blew and I heard the dull roar of a motorcycle in the distance.

Well, I wanted closure, and I got it. The tears felt hot against my cold cheeks. I've spent too long pining over him, but it's time for me to move on. Clearly, that's what he's done. The motorcycle's engine grew louder, and my adrenaline started flowing as I realized it was coming closer. I stared down at my feet as the cyclist pulled up in front of me.

"Need a ride to the city?"

There was Sebastian, clad in his motorcycle helmet and holding out a second one to me, merely a few hours after he said we should keep our distance from each other. I was cold and I didn't want to waste my chance trying to decipher the nuance in his tone, so without a word I put on the helmet and climbed up behind him. The ride to the city was long and cold, but it felt good to wrap my arms around him again. I didn't even question how he got my address. When we finally arrived at my apartment building, it felt like the ride had ended too soon.

I stepped off slowly and removed my helmet, which I returned to Sebastian. "Thank you."

Sebastian removed his helmet as well. "No problem." He hung the helmets on either handle and stepped off, adjusting his sweatshirt. "I…I wanted to tell you something I should have said earlier."

"Do you want to come inside?" I pointed to the building.

"Yeah, sure." He followed me up three flights of stairs, then waited for me to unlock the door. "So…do you have a roommate?"

"Nah, I live alone." I shoved the door open. The lamp on my nightstand was already on – I had anticipated coming home after dark. "Sorry it's so small. Make yourself comfortable."

He went in ahead of me. I locked the door behind us, and I turned around to find him closely examining the wedding photograph I had left on the nightstand weeks ago. I hurried over to him. "Don't destroy that!"

"I wouldn't do that." He set the photograph down gently where he had found it. "I still have a copy of that picture somewhere." He moved to the couch, and I sat down next to him, about a foot away.

"Can I get you anything?" I asked.

"Got any coffee?"

"No…I've been getting my caffeine fix from Joja Cola now. I get them free from work."

"Disgusting." He made a face. "I thought Sam was the only one in town who likes that garbage."

"Well…coffee reminds me of someone, so I don't drink it anymore."

"Who?"

I looked away. "Isn't it obvious?"

Sebastian paused for a moment in thought. "Listen…" He fished around for the right words. "I'm sorry I didn't try harder, either. And I'm sorry I was stubborn and insecure throughout our relationship. My biggest fear was losing you – I even had nightmares about it. But then I went and made that nightmare a reality…rushing into that divorce was a mistake."

"Sebastian…" I rested my hand on his knee, but it didn't faze him.

"Sam made me come out here. Of all the people who would tell me I'm an idiot for not going after you, I didn't expect it to be him." Sebastian laughed quietly. "He was right, though. I can't avoid you forever, and I don't want to."

I leaned in closer to him. "Do you…?" Before I could finish my sentence, he leaned in closer to me, and our lips met. It was a sensation I had never expected to feel again – our breathing synchronized, his hand against the back of my head, my hand cradling his face…

He broke the kiss momentarily to whisper my name in my ear, sending a pleasant chill through my body. "Yes, I still love you." He planted gentle kisses on my neck. "I told you, it's been hard to get over you…so I never did."

We kissed again, this time moving so close together that I had to place my hand on his thigh for support. I tentatively inched it upward, then pulled it away nervously. He caught my hand in his, and our fingers tangled together. "Do you want to spend the night?" I murmured breathlessly.

He pulled me closer so that I was sitting on his lap. "Yeah…why not?"