Thank God it’s Friday.

Next stop, the weekend. Not just any weekend. Fourth of July weekend.

The air is full of the little, intermittent pop of firecrackers.

Kids chase each other down Main Street with sparklers.

Signs hang in the town square: Hoedown. The Warner’s farm. Music begins at sundown. 10 PM fireworks. Contact Sara for carpool details.

A man needs something to look forward to and picturing a beautiful blonde swaying in my arms is getting me through some long nights until then.

Just one more night.

But first, I gotta work.

I won’t say no to a little tease, though...

I park in front of the VanHouten house. It’s Friday, so I pack a milk crate with Kimber’s usual large grocery order, plus a few extras because I’m just nice like that. I hop down and make my way up the sidewalk.

The back door comes into view and I catch sight of the two empty bottles sitting on the stoop.

I crack a smile. She remembered. She’s been thinking about me.

Hell yeah, she has.

I brace the crate beneath one arm and reach for the doorknob with the other.

It doesn’t move.

Locked.

I look around for prying eyes before giving the door two quick knocks. I wait a few moments with my ear by the door, listening for her on the other side. Nothing.

“Hey, Kimber?” I say, knocking again. “It’s me.”

Still nothing.

“Kiiiim-ber?” I sing. “Oh, Kiiiiii-”

Finally, the lock turns. The door opens slowly and I smile on her face.

“Weekly food delivery, ma’am. Want it on the table?” I lean forward, tipping my hat. “As usual?” I add with a wink.

Kimber’s lips twitch but they don’t quite make it to the full smile I love so much. She takes a step back and opens the door wider for me to step inside.

I walk in and set the crate on the table, along with my hat that’s inevitably going to fall off once we go horizontal.

I turn around and she’s still standing with the door wide-open.

“Thank you,” she says, hand on the knob.

I step closer, gazing down at her. “Is that all I get?” I tease.

She exhales softly. “We need to talk.”

“Oh!” I snap my fingers. “Have you given any thought to what you’re wearing tomorrow night? I’m stuck between two ties.”

“Nate...”

“Blue or red? The blue is more bright and fun but the red is classy and sleek. Figured I’d just match you and save me the trouble of choosing.”

“I’m not going,” she says.

I blink. “What?”

Kimber turns her head down. “I’m not going,” she says again. “I change my mi—”

I grab the door and the knob slips from her hand as I force it closed.

“You’re not going?” I ask. “Why not?”

She takes a deep breath. “I thought about it and I just don’t think it’s a good idea anymore.”

“Kimber... you have nothing to worry about. I got this. I’ve got the whole thing taken care of. You don’t have to be scared. Trust me.”

“I’m not. And I do, Nate, I just...”

She goes quiet, her eyes still locked on the floor between us.

I tilt down. “Why won’t you look at me?” I ask.

Her head shakes. “Nate...”

“It’s him, isn’t it?”

She looks up. Her blue eyes threaten to spill over as she nods.

“Yes,” she answers. “We’re having dinner here with his parents tomorrow night. I have to host.”

I grit my teeth as jealously clenches my insides. “Fuck ‘em. Go anyway.”

“I can’t do that,” she says.

“You’d rather spend the night with him and his snooty parents than me?”

The answer is right there in her bright eyes. It’s written all over her silent face.

I rest my hands on her shoulders. “You don’t want this, Kimber,” I say. “Go with me instead.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Nate, this is my marriage,” she says. “What we have. You and me. It’s…”

“It’s perfect,” I say.

“It’s temporary.” She shakes her head slowly. “It’s always been temporary. I have to think about that. I have to think about what happens to me when you leave...”

I straighten up, ready to fight and stop the words I know are about to come out next.

“Kimber, don’t...”

“We have to end this,” she says.

I cringe. “No.”

“The sooner we do, the easier it’ll be.”

“No,” I say again.

“Nate, come on.”

“He doesn’t love you.”

“And what, you do?”

“Yes.”

Kimber closes her eyes. Her head drops again as she hides away but I won’t let her stay there.

“I love you,” I say, letting it sink in. “But you already knew that. You already knew how much I worshiped the ground you walk on. I always have. This shouldn’t shock you.”

A tear rolls down her cheek, escaping from beneath her closed eyes.

“We might be temporary, Kimber, but that won’t be.” I take a step back. “That’s all I have to say to you about that.”

Kimber looks up. “Wait, Nate, you can’t just say that and leave.”

“Why not?” I smirk. “In fact, that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.”

She blinks with confusion. “What?”

“We’re just gonna leave it open,” I say. “No closure. No ending. Just an annoying cliffhanger that’s gonna eat away at you.”

“Are you being serious right now?”

I drop my hat back onto my head and open the door.

She juts forward. “Nate, hold on—”

I spin toward her and flash her a wink as I step outside.

She scoffs. “Really?”

I close the door behind me and swing down to grab her empty bottles as I pass by them. The door opens behind me but I don’t look back as she says my name, no matter how much that stings.

I keep walking to the street. I hop up into my truck, toss the bottles into the box in the back, and I sit down in the driver’s seat.

Drive, drop, and go.

It’s what I do.