Max & Amber REBOOT

How many months had it been? Why did it still worry her? Just the thought of him sent shivers down her spine. What if they did meet again?

Amber's recurring dream was seeing him sitting there on her bed at night. Gazing at her, stroking her hair away from her forehead. 

"Will, you play nice this time, love?" His grin was haunting and he looked ready to kiss her, or would he choke her?

Naturally, she never let him have his way. Sometimes she'd find the thick kitchen blade beneath her pillow and chase him down the hall. Once, she even got him to go in the dryer. Yes, that was such a silly but satisfying dream.

Other times, it was his turn. And as much as she intended to hate it, his kisses were of lust and a dark sweetness she couldn't really explain.

Amber rose up on her elbows in bed, thinking what had she done to become this lonely creature of habit?

Oh, right, she lived in her grandmother's old farmhouse (alone), and Max was staying with his uncle just up the road.

They'd actually only met once and it was because he got a letter that wasn't theirs. It was something addressed to her place. Really, it was nothing. 

At first glance of Max, she was left a little breathless. After all, he was the brooding sort who looked a bit unhappy. But that was her cup of tea. She didn't really like the happy ones. It meant he'd lived with hardships, she thought.

She'd wanted to know him, but he never came again. Jane who lived on the other side of her in a makeshift storage unit in her glorious garden told her he was gay.

"Seriously?" Well, Amber never felt it. She must be wrong.

"Well, he's sick you know. Got the disease." Jane the vegan explained it was HIV. 

"Um." Amber nodded back guessing it was serious, but from afar he looked rather fit. It was enough to keep her going, perhaps. Loneliness was truly a sad art, she guessed. But in her mind, it was like a romance brewing even if it wasn't physical.

She guessed that's what happened to folks who couldn't make it in the city. She worked for a vet only three days a week now. Usually, in the field, helping out with cattle and horses. It was a decent wage. Not that she had any animals of her own, other than her cat Sassy and a guard dog named Rocky. Yes, she had a lot of time on her hands. After all, she didn't have a TV.