“A Date with Destiny”

Zack quietly sipped his glass of water, as he waited for Destiny to show. She’d agreed to meet him in the tavern at Millie’s, but she was 10 minutes late and he was beginning to wonder if she’d actually show.

He looked back down at the paper he’d been pretending to read for the past half hour and scanned the morning’s headlines. News about the recent flood and the attack on that Roberts fellow and his wife, something about the town elections... yadda... yadda... yadda... Setting the paper aside, he looked up and caught sight of her, just as she entered the inn. Destiny had arrived. She was here. And Christ she was just as beautiful as ever.

Zack swallowed hard as he watched her saunter into the room. When her gaze met his, she lowered her eyes and smiled seductively. He quickly stood up, not taking his eyes off hers, and walked around the table towards her.

“Destiny,” he said, softly, reaching out to hug her. She hesitated, stiffened her body a bit, then returned his embrace.

“Grant,” she replied. “I’d say it’s good to see you, but, well...” she told him.

She was lying, he knew it. She was never very good at lying. He pulled out a chair for her and said, “Please, sit down. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

“Yeah, I guess we do,” she replied, trying to smile, as she sat down in the chair.

“I missed you,” Zack told her, still not taking his eyes off her.

“I... um... missed you,” she confessed. “So, how did you find me, anyway?” She asked, shifting in her chair.

“You know me,” he grinned, “I’ve got my ways.”

“You shouldn’t have, though... found me, that is,” she told him, nervously looking around the room. “It’s not safe for either of us. You know this, Zack.”

“Maybe I don’t care,” he told her. “Maybe I’m willing to take that chance in order to be with you.”

“Oh Grant,” she sighed. “We’ve been through this. I’m wanted, remember? And you... you’re supposed to be bringing me back to justice, not setting up house with me.”

“Not anymore I’m not,” he told her, taking her hand in his.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Means I’m not with the F.B.I. anymore, therefore I can do whatever the hell I want to do.”

“You... quit? Grant, why would you do that? I hope it wasn’t because of me. You know I’m not worth it. I’m not worth you giving up your whole life like that.”

“Maybe you are to me,” he replied, softly, gazing into her eyes.

She held his gaze for a moment then shook her head and looked away. “No, no. Grant,” she sighed, looking down at his hands holding hers, “I can’t do this. WE can’t do this. It isn’t right. I can’t let you give up everything and risk your life to be with me.” She pulled her hands free from his and stood up. “Goodbye, Grant. Please don’t try to find me again.”

Zack watched as she turned and walked away – out of the tavern and out of his life forever. He sighed, clenching his fists. “No, not forever,” he thought to himself, as he stood up and walked towards the door to follow her, “Not this time.”

TBC...