“Ha, funny.” I still don’t know why I let River put that out there. Oh well. Mr. Ultra Mega Love is dead now. I’m back to being Huff. Just Huff. A nice guy, with a really big heart—literally—living in hiding and trying not to get in trouble. Huff finds peace in knowing he finally did good. He saved River’s sisters—most of them. He saved some people’s sons, too. Most importantly, he saved the girl he loves. From himself, but it still counts.
I think Joy would be proud. She doesn’t come to me in my dreams anymore, but I still feel her with me.
I press my hand over my heart.
“All right. I gotta run, kid,” says Kyle. “Be sure to use that new encrypted email account if you need anything. You never know who’s watching.”
“Yes, Congressman Ferris. And, Kyle? Dude, get a serious girlfriend already. I’m tired of seeing you with all those hot models in the tabloids.”
“Never. Bye.” He ends the call.
I laugh and take a seat on my favorite chair on the dock next to my fishing pole and cooler. I throw on a baseball cap and glasses. Just to be safe. Not that anyone around here would recognize me. I’m some loner who needs a haircut, spends too much time fishing alone or scuba diving in the underground aquafers, and doesn’t talk to anyone. Hermit life isn’t so bad. There’s really only one human being’s company I miss.
I watch the sun set and the stars come out in a glittering spectacle. Five shooting stars, one after another, blaze across the sky. Amazing. I’ve never seen a night sky like this.
I reach into my cooler and crack open an ice-cold beer. I wish River were here. Because it’s moments like these I want to share together. I constantly wonder if I’ll ever find happiness without her in it.
Don’t do it, Huff. Don’t do it.
But I can’t help it. I’m a selfish dick sometimes. I look at my watch. It’s late where she is. She’s probably asleep already.
I close my eyes and go to her. The room is dark, but there’s no one in her bed. She must be out. Maybe she’s on a date. Who knows?
I’m about to leave when the lights come on.
Her warm brown eyes meet mine, and I freeze.
Her lips turn into a snarl. “Fucking Huff. You’re alive. I knew it.”
THE END?