From Mountains to Lone Stars

Reno was always beautiful in the winter. It was all snow-capped mountains and bright blue skies. There was always a hint of cold in the air, but the sun was almost always shining. Then there were the days when it snowed. Snow in Reno was magical. The way the snowflakes fell and caught the trees and the mountains and the ground was like nothing else.

The way you could see your breath in the air and always feeling cozy wrapped up in blankets and jackets and hats. It was unlike any other place during the winter, but I still hated this city. Reno... Nevada really, held so many bad memories. This place was like a death sentence for me.

The thing was, I didn't mind being home this time. I had a guy I couldn't stop thinking of. Matt and his kisses had been wonderful. For a first date, the zoo had been a brilliant idea. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about him either. I was seriously feeling good about him.

"Alexis, are you feeling okay?" Dad asked, sitting down next to me in front of the fire. I had been placing my presents under the tree but stopped to gaze at the flames.

"Yeah, Dad. Can I ask you a question?" I turned to face my father. He looked worse for wear. He had always looked sickly mainly from years of drinking and health problems. Lately though, it looked like he was constantly on the verge of death. It was kind of hard to watch actually.

"Of course you can, little darling." He stroked my hair. My dad wasn't always the best man, but he always loved me. He didn't always know how to show us he cared for us, but we could always tell it was there.

"After your cancer diagnosis, how often did you worry it would come back?"

His hazel eyes watched me carefully. I could tell that wasn't the question he had been anticipating. "Oh, well, it fluctuated. Honestly, it still does. For the first year after my diagnosis, I was worried it would come back. It was always in the back of my mind. The second year, it waned a little more. I wasn't nearly as worried about it, but it was still a concern. By year five, it became more of an after thought. It was like well it could be there, but I doubt it after all these years."

I smiled at him. "And now?"

"Little darling, I am almost sixty-seven years old. I have had a heart attack, gall bladder surgery, colon cancer, a stroke, two blood disorders, diabetes, and gout. I'm at a point where if I worry about my health, that's all I'm gonna worry about. It ain't worth it. The only time the thought of it coming back enters my head is when I gotta go do that damn colonoscopy."

Laughing, I leaned in to hug my dad. "I'm scared, Daddy. Everything feels like it's crashing in on me, and I am so afraid it will have come back."

"They got it all, little darling. You are so much stronger than you know." He kissed my forehead and helped me stand up. "Now, let's go watch White Christmas."
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My phone rang just as I was picking up my pen to start writing. I glanced down to see Matt was calling. A smile somehow made its way onto my face. The man never failed to somehow brighten my life.

"Hey, Sanders. How's Huntington Beach?" I set my book back down.

He chuckled. I could almost hear the smile in his voice. "It's sunny and warm, just how I like my winters. How's the tundra of Reno? Forecast says it's supposed to snow there through January."

I snorted. "Why are you looking at the Reno forecast?"

"I miss my desert flower, and I'm a little upset that she won't be at Bruce with me."

A grin appeared on my face. He had a nickname for me? He was thinking about me? And he fucking missed me? What had I done to deserve a guy like him? He was amazing.

"Desert flower? I'm going to miss Bruce so much. I wish I could go back, but I would actually love to get to know a new hall like Legends, and I would love to pursue what we have further."

Matt laughed softly. "Yeah, I thought you'd like that. I know, it's going to be weird. But there's always ice cream night... and date night."

"Date night sounds amazing."

Notes

Short and cute. I miss Reno cause I don't get to go there this year. It really is amazing when it snows. Y'all should look up some pictures! I promise, there is going to be some plot soon.