ANN

Without looking back, he grabs his jacket and the door closes behind him.

slick back a few flyaways of limp blond hair

This should be a slam dunk if they’re not upset over my tardiness.

And if I didn’t need the money, I’d hightail it out of here.

“And I know you’re a fan of thorough.”

Zach eyes me sternly as I step into the entry and remove my shoes.

“All the more reason to weed out the ones who are not up to par.

“No. I want to be you. A dreamer with a tiny tether to reality. An appreciation for life … never taking any of it for granted. And oh … the possibilities. You can be anything. Do anything. Go anywhere. You have those butterflies to feel for the first time. Em! You. Have. Butterflies. To. Feel! God! I wish I could go back and feel them again. It’s not that I still don’t feel them with Zach, but they’re never as strong as the first time. You have a million firsts left in your life. I have a handful of lasts. Don’t waste a single minute being anything but courageous.”

She’s asleep with the seat reclined, head tilted to the side, and a string of drool down the side of her face.

I chose to use my hour of time away from Suzie to jog instead of mow the lawn.