Chapter 10: Second Half of the Line

"Not one minute of it was for him," Nolan said again, and then he got out of the truck.

I sat there with my mouth still tender.

The rain had thinned to a mist.

He walked to the low stone wall at the edge of the lighthouse grounds and stood looking at the harbor.

I followed him because I was not finished.

"That's it?" I said. "You say something like that and walk away?"

"I'm not walking away. I'm standing."

"From very far."

"From where I can think."

The whole bay lay below us, the grey carriers and the white sails and the city soft as wet paper.

I stood next to him at the wall, close enough that our arms touched.

He did not move away.

"You kissed me," he said at last.

"I did."

"Why?"

"Because you drove across the city at three in the morning to bring me coffee." I shrugged. "And because I wanted to."

"That isn't a reason to do anything in your position."

"It's the only one I've got."

He turned to face me.

The mist beaded on his hair.

He lifted one hand and set it, very lightly, against the side of my face, and I felt my whole body go quiet.

He bent his head.

His mouth came within an inch of mine, and I could feel his breath, and I closed my eyes.

Then nothing happened.

I opened them.

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