"Hey sailor?" she said from her sports coupe. "How about showing this girl a good time?"
I kept on walking.
She paced me. Creeping down the street right beside me.
What does she want from me? Is she here to flaunt another person that sheās sleeping with? To rub dirt in my face?
I stopped. "What the hell do you want?"
"I'd like you to stop acting like a four year old and get in this car."
I wasn't acting like I was four. Five sure, four never.
I got in the car and she hit the gas.
"You need to make a right at the light."
But she kept driving forward.
"Jane, you passed-"
"My car. My rules." She stared me down and smiled.
We drove up to Lake Arrowhead.
It's some local mountain resort. Full of shops and restaurants.
The mountains had got their first big snow of the year and everything had a fine dusting.
I'm not used to seeing white snow. In New York City, it comes in four colors.Black, gray, brown and of course, yellow.
We parked in a covered parking structure I got out of the heated car and froze.
"Jesus," I said embracing myself to keep warm. "Itās freezing out here. This was your plan? Take me to the snow and watch as I die of frostbite?ä
"I thought people from New York were use to weather like this?"
"32 degrees is cold no matter where youāre from. I don't see you getting out of the car, chicken. To keep warm-- you gotta dance."
I started clucking and flapping my arms in my best dancing chicken impersonation.
Jane started to laugh.
I missed that laugh. I missed her.
She reached into her back seat and pulled out her heavy wool overcoat. "I knew where we were going. Remember?"
"I hate you."
"No, you donāt."
"I love you?"
"Maybe."
"And you?"
She hugged me, putting as much of her coat around me as she could and we kissed.
We stood overlooking the lake, holding hands with my new gloves, my new hat, and my new coat. She paid for it all-- wanting me to be warm. Jane, just hold me close. I'll be warm.
"You look good, Nanook," She said. "I've missed you."
"I don't know why I stayed away," I said. "You're were right. I've done my share of sneaking out on people. I was more angry at the fact that it was Fran. Why her?"
She looked at her feet. "I don't have the greatest track record in relationships myself. Ask Fran. I guess I didn't want to get too involved with you. I wanted distance."
"And now?"
She embraced me, took my hands, and we began to slow dance. I was cold-- but suddenly I didn't care.
