Libido

He Woke It up

He stood by the baggage claim, watching for her.
In one hand, he held a sign that simply read Beautiful.
In the other, a white rose—a reminder.

He spotted her at the bottom of the escalator. She wasn’t looking for him, didn’t know he’d be there. He shifted slightly, stepping into her path. When she saw him, she stopped, disbelief flashing across her face before she quickened her pace, closing the distance in a heartbeat.

He dropped the sign as she reached him, gathering her in his arms, lifting her for half a turn before setting her down again. The noise of the terminal—the rattle of the escalator, rolling luggage, distant announcements—faded to nothing. The world stood still as 20 years disappeared in the feel of her body wrapped around his again.

Slowly, she drew back, her blue eyes tracing his face.
Her hand came up to his cheek. The mustache was familiar; the beard was new. She brushed her thumb lightly over his lips—not offering a kiss, not yet.

When they finally separated, he handed her the rose. The memories it carried hit her all at once. Laughter, skin, warmth. She took the stem carefully, brought the petals to her nose, and breathed him in.

He bent to retrieve the sign, then stood beside her as they waited. His arm found its place around her waist. She rested both hands—and the rose—atop the handle of her rolling bag.

“Hi,” she said, smiling through the shy color in her cheeks, eyes lowered to the floor.
“Hi yourself,” he replied, only glancing her way.
“How have you been?”
“The same as always.”

She leaned her head into his shoulder.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“Thank you for accepting.”

She hesitated. “Is the resort far?”
“About forty minutes.”
“What’s it like?”
“It offers the two things I brought you to Florida to experience—sunshine and freedom.”
“And you,” she said softly.
“What?”
“You. To experience you again.”

“Yes, that too,” he admitted, his own cheeks coloring now as he looked down.

They watched the carousel together, luggage circling endlessly.
“How’s Colorado treating you?” he asked.
“It’s nice,” she said. “But cold.”

After a moment, she nodded toward her bag.

They let it go round again as they kept their eyes on it.

“You were just visiting when it happened?”
“Yep. Just one of my usual trips.”
“So how did you meet the boyfriend?”
“He was just… there.”
“But why the attraction?”
She smiled faintly. “Just because.”
“You told me years ago it went to sleep.”
“It did.”
“What happened?”
“He woke it up.”
“He woke it up?”
“Yeah—and now it won’t quit talking to me.”
“Is that a problem?”
“It can be.”
“I could talk to it for you, if you’d like.”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“You’ll make it worse.”
“I won’t make it worse.”
“Yes, you will!”
“How could I do that?”
“Because you’re you.”
“Honestly, I’ll talk to it real nice.”
“You do that, and it’ll start yelling at me.”
“Would that be a problem?”
“It definitely would be.”
“Come now, I’m just offering to talk to it.”
“My ass!”
“Okay,” he said, lips twitching, “I can talk to that too.”

Her cheeks flushed again, as she thought…

It’s going to be a long—wonderful—weekend.