Free Pucker Up by Valerie Seimas

bittersweet memories.  But he was brought up short, almost falling
over when he stopped in his tracks and saw who had planted themselves in his
yard.
    He
would know that profile anywhere, had it branded into his skin, a tattoo he’d
never gotten around to removing.  When she turned, a hand brushing her wavy
hair out of her face, her blue eyes bored a hole right through him, another
laser against his skin, another branding. 
    “Fuck
me…,” he breathed, unsure if he said the words aloud or just mouthed them. 
Faith West, asked and answered.  Hadn’t that been the consensus?  He’d seen
her, he’d survived, now came the moving on.  A day was all he was getting, all
he was allowed before his resolve was tested?
    There
was no question – it failed.  Everything failed – his ability to speak, to
move, to form coherent thoughts.  He was shattered, blown apart with just one
look.  Decimated and left to crumble into ruin.  Caught ablaze and burnt to
ash.  And he hadn’t even heard her speak yet.
    Waves
of memories crashed over him, memories his shock kept at bay when last he saw
her across a tapas restaurant.  Him serving her drinks poolside.  Her reluctant
smile as he led her across the horse trails.  That one lonely tear when she
told him who she was.  That radiant grin when he told her it didn’t matter. 
The laborious travel.  The coming home.  Her dreamy wedding dress.  Her dreary
hospital gown.  The sight of her car screaming out of the driveway – the last
goodbye.
    Dustin
could almost see the same movie gleaming in her eyes, their whirlwind romance
on fast forward. He could barely think straight – how would she react to seeing
him standing there?
    “Why
are you laughing?”  Dustin asked.
    His
confused expression just made the laughter bubble up more.  Faith was gasping
for breath to answer.  “Because the universe hates me.”  She pulled herself
together with visible effort and turned towards him, hands settling on her
hips.  “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
    “I
live here.  Why wouldn’t I be here?”  Skepticism was clear in his eyes before
understanding chased it away.  “You saw me at the restaurant.”
    “Yeah,
I did.” 
    “You
just pretended you didn’t,” he said with challenge.
    “As
did you,” she countered.
    “Well,
obviously we’re both cowards then,” he said, the conviction in his voice
fading. 
    She
looked away from his gaze, focusing on the house behind him.  “Doesn’t look
like much has changed around here.”
    “Looks
can be deceiving, can’t they?”
    “What’s
all the racket about?  What’s going on?” a voice shouted.  Dustin turned, Faith
leaning to the left to peer around his broad shoulders.
    Peter
stopped in his tracks, brought up short like he’d seen a ghost.  His mouth
gaped for a moment before a smile lit up his features, and he stepped to her
side.  “Well, I’ll be – if it isn’t East in the flesh.”
    Faith
couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that, though a smile wasn’t far behind. 
“Still confused about directions I see, Panda.”  He pretended to scowl at the
nickname before dropping an arm across her shoulders for a quick squeeze.
    “Me? 
I’m not the one that took a decade to find my way back,” Peter whispered.
    Faith
just barely managed to keep her expression light.  She gave him a slight glare
out of the corner of her eye, keeping the horrible havoc those words did to her
heart locked away.  Later she’d write a haunting song – now she needed to stay
in control.  “Good to see you too, Peter.”
    “Isn’t
it though?” he chided.  He let her shoulders go but grabbed her hands, holding
them out to give her a once over.  “You have not changed a bit.”
    “God,
I hope that’s not true.”  At his crooked eyebrow she added, “Ten years is a
long time to be standing still.”  She cringed inwardly – that had been way too
close to an Andy Peters lyric for her peace of