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I heard the rumble of his engine. He was continuing on. I had to stay with him. I tore my eyes from the window where several inches of snow had gathered on the windowsill.

“It’s almost over,” I said. “Jimmy’s holding his little girl in his arms.”

“What’s happening?”

“His little girl is saying the famous line. ‘Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.’”

The credits began to roll. Tears, too, were rolling down my cheeks.

Will was quiet as if he knew I needed this moment.

After a moment, I said, “I love this movie. Year after year I watch it and love it more.”

A beat passed. Then Will said, “I have to confess something.”

“What’s that?”

“I can’t stand Jimmy Stewart’s voice.”

I couldn’t help it, I laughed. And laughed some more. Soon I was laughing and crying, I couldn’t tell which. Finally, when I could breathe, I said, “Joe hated it too.”

“Good man,” he said. “Well, I’m willing to give it another try.”

“You better.”

There was a long pause. Then he said, “Michelle?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s rough out here.”

I looked to the window again. The gap was almost hidden by the gathered snow. The panic came back, wrapping itself around the inside of my chest. A fist, hard and unyielding.

“I had to stop,” he said.

I blinked. “Where? There’s no motel between Millerville and Barkley Falls. Nowhere to stop except…”

My heart thundered in my chest. I stood up, padding out of my bedroom and down the hallway in the dark. I held my breath as I went to the front door and swung it open.

Will was standing on my doorstep.

18

Will

Michelle’s hair blew back in the freezing wind, snow landing in it like stars in the night sky.

She wore only an oversized t-shirt, and it whipped against her body, her legs bare beneath.

“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice raised over the wind. “I had to see you. But I should go—it’s freezing, you’re going to—”

But she shook her head, reaching her hand up and grasping my coat. She pulled me inside, closing the door behind us against the gale.

I looked at her for only a moment, to make sure the look in her eyes was need, like mine. But I didn’t need to guess because she looked up at me then and said, “Kiss me, Will. Kiss me like you did before.”

The whole world faded as I took Michelle Franco’s face in my hands and bent down to kiss her. Heat engulfed me as our lips met. I slipped my tongue against hers, parting her lips, needing to feel her, to know her. I reached down and lifted her up while the damp snow on my coat soaked through her t-shirt. I pressed her up against the wall while heat ran through me, electrifying everything from my hips down, making my cock strain against my zipper.

I buried my face in her hair, her neck. Inhaling her like air.