I don't require any grand gestures. I can hold my own with Batman.
Lochlan sips his wine beside me as we stare into the bonfire. It's freezing and raining but we're sitting in the half-moon shelter made from driftwood and the fire is spitting, sizzling and cracking while we bicker, using up all the oxygen on the beach, threatening to send it dark.
You don't have to prove anything to me.
It wasn't for you, as I said.
You shouldn't make these huge moves, Bridge. You need to protect yourself.
First time I've seen you advocate for keeping him.
I want you to have a happy Christmas this year.
I have one every year-
No you don't. You put on a face. It's a show. It's exhausting for you and it's exhausting to watch.
I stand up and the blanket falls from around our shoulders. Great. Thank you for such a romantic dinner.
We're not finished.
Yeah, we are.
Where are you going?
To bed. I need sleep. Then you won't be so hard to talk to, I think.
Peanut, wait! Suddenly we're teenagers again and it's dark and I'm afraid of walking home alone but I refuse to give in. He is sorry he hurt my feelings and so anxious to fix it all but still wanting to be right. We choreographed a life together. He throws his hands up and walks the wrong way down the beach and I just want to go up now.
Fuck my life. I laugh suddenly. None of this was in the rehearsal.
Lochlan turns around. That's the point! It doesn't matter. None of that matters. The show goes on, no matter what. You know this. What matters is that you and I are here together, just like we dreamed. Do you remember?
Of course I remember. Who's going to forget a hot summer night watching fireflies and fireworks from a makeshift bed of camping blankets in the bed of Lochlan's pickup truck at the end of fair season. He told me when I was finished counting the stars we'd be home for good.
You got them all? He smiles at me. Slowly. Makes me crazy.
I think so.