Page 23 of Married in Misty Mountain

“I’ll get a second bed.”

“That’s a little extreme,” I say.

“Said the lady who had a fit when I told her she had to share a tent with me,” he says, his face finally breaking into a smile.

I playfully nudge his leg with my bare foot. “That was different.”

“Listen. My point is that this marriage is only supposed to provide you with protection. I don’t want to get feelings involved. I don’t want to wreck your experience of marriage before you’ve had the chance to marry for love. And on top of that, I don’t want to take advantage of someone who still has a lot of cult shit to work through.”

I nod and chew on a slice of bread. “Cult shit.” He makes a lot of very sound arguments. In a real relationship, we would never work. My childhood tormenter still bugs the shit out of me. And vice versa. “Makes sense. We both have too much baggage.”

Hurley exhales and finally eats his fruit and bread with gusto. “I’m glad we worked that out.”

Me too.

I think.

Chapter Ten

Hurley

Shenna is uncomfortably silent as we pack up our overnight bags and check out later that morning. I tell myself she’s processing everything we talked about.

I pray that she’s not giving me the silent treatment because I didn’t hurt her feelings.

“How was the room?” Ella asks when we check out.

“Good,” I say, handing her the room key.

Suddenly, my wife is super animated and chatty. “My goodness, it was wonderful. The honeymoon suite is so romantic! The fireplace, the view, every little detail.”

Ella beams at her. “So glad to hear it. I do hope you two will stay with us again soon.”

Shenna is practically breathless as she clutches her chest. “Oh, we definitely will,” she says. “The bed is so comfortable and sturdy. And that shower? Very accommodating. Wasn’t it, honey?”

I stare at her like she’s lost her mind, and she bats her now-normal lashes at me. “Yep,” I grunt.

Ella claps in delight. “Well, that’s the best review I’ve ever heard. Be sure to post on Yelp!”

Shenna grips my arm as we leave.

“Laying it on a little thick, Blake,” I say.

“I’m sorry. Did you not like my performance?”

I don’t know how to answer that, and the short drive to the General Store is uncomfortably silent. We park in the alley behind the store, empty except for Jack’s truck and a row of stacked stock pallets. My mind is reeling, and my body is buzzing. All that talk about sturdy beds and accommodating showers put some utterly inappropriate thoughts in my head. What have I gotten myself into?

She’s out of the truck before I have time to open her door for her, which makes me crackle with annoyance.

“You have to be more careful,” I say, taking her hand as we approach the employee entrance of the store.

“What?”

“You can’t just jump out of the truck like that. You have to let me help you.”

“I’m not your granny!”

“Shenna, that’s not the point. You are not aware of your surroundings.”

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