Page 28 of Tide Over

Good. A steady stream of work, and a lot of maintenance and repairs.

Get a good catch today?

I watch the bubbles dancing as he types, and feel the anticipation rising, hoping he had a good day.

It was decent. Average, considering our last few weeks. And calm water, which we were overdue for.

A smile tugs at my lips as I read his message, relieved he finally had a good one. The past week was tough for them, and even though he hides it and I don’t know him all that well, I can tell it was getting to him.

That’s good.

Hope you got out on your boat for some fishing too then.

Unfortunately not. I had to install some flooring today.

I huff out a breath. Didn’t think so. He works too damn much.

You probably should. You need the practice…

The bubbles appear immediately, and I smile as I can practically feel his eyes narrowing from here.

You were lucky. And you had the better rod.

I laugh into the empty room.

I thought they were pretty much the same?

Yeah, *pretty much*. Not the exact same.

All I hear are excuses.

Re-match when you’re home, and you’ll be crying into the livewell.

Yeah, tears of laughter because you never even got a nibble.

Big talk for a fly fisher.

It’s ok, I can show you how to do that too.

How to stand in water and fling a string around? I think I got it.

I let out another laugh, now absolutely needing to find a fly fishing spot around Torrin Cove.

It’s on then.

My eyes flick to the corner of the screen, and when I see it’s getting late, I also realize my eyes are finally feeling heavy.

I should get to sleep though. I’m pretty beat.

Yeah, same.

Then he sends another photo of Miss Bobber, still lounging in the same spot on the couch, mid-yawn with her mouth wide open like she’s letting out a tiny roar. I smile and save the photo.

Thanks. Night.

Night.

I turn my phone off and toss it back into my bag, then sink back into bed. And this time when my eyes close, different thoughts and questions swirl through my mind. The chaos that had me in its hold earlier is gone, replaced by something quieter, and something… almost peaceful. And I can't help but wonder, once again, what this feeling is. It’s almost like… I’m into him.

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