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I look her in the eye ‘With my life’

She exhales and I feel the tension drain out of her body

I wind down the

One of the men lays his boxer’s arm on the top of the car and leans in He s?’ I ask

His sparkling blue eyes crinkle at the corners ‘Mornin’ to ya, Jake, ood news’

Forty-two

Tasha Evanoff

After Jake and the ed a feords in a dialect so thick I barely could , dirty, staring people, who I assumed must be the inhabitants of the caravans in the fields on either side of us, part to allow the car through

The car coaloith a red roof Noah is sitting outside sreat relief he looks well When he sees the car he flicks away his cigarette and coet out

‘I’ll be having a beer with the boys, but I’ll be back to pick her up in an hour,’ Jake says as he closes his door

‘Thanks,’ Noah says

‘No probles already walking away

I stand there, ht of the day I feel suddenly shy A weak auturey clouds and shines down on us He crooks his finger at me

I pretend to look around, then raise my eyebrows, and point to my chest

Grinning, he nods

God, I love him so much I run to him, my heart so stuffed with love it feels like it will burst He takes my hand and twirls me around ‘How come you’re more beautiful every time I see you?’

I grin like soathers ht there on the concrete driveway A long, slow burning kiss that just goes on and on

Oh, Noah, Noah, Noah

By the tiling

‘I love you,’ I whisper

‘I’d burn everything I on to the ground for you’

‘I’ve burnt everything I own to the ground for you,’ I say

He caresses my face with his thu,’ he says

‘Really?’

‘Yeah, really Can you do that?’

I nod