Page 97 of Fluke
“I like the sound of that,” he says, his voice rough.
I grin. “I like the sound of it too.”
My entire body feels light. Airy. This is how I feel after I go through a cabinet that has needed cleaned out and organized for years and I finally do it. Everything clean and in its place.
All the pieces are where they should be.
He studies me, waiting on me to recant, I think. But I don’t.
Out of nowhere, the skies open and rain falls in a heavy downpour.
“Ah!” I say, laughing. I lift my chin to the sky and let the water hit my face.
“Is this some kind of sign?” Jess asks, laughing too.
“I don’t know.” My voice is nearly a shout so he can hear me over the shower. “What sign could rain mean?”
“The last time it rained when we were together, you taught me how to dance.”
My heart flutters as I remember that—andsomething Kerissa said after a trip a few months ago. “You know what else it means?”
“What?”
I shove my wet hair out of my face. “When it rains on a wedding day, it means the marriage will last.”
Jess’s smile couldn’t be bigger if he tried. “Look at you, Pip.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your couples retreat saved our marriage.”
I burst out laughing, the sound mixing with the raindrops bouncing magically on the water.
“I’m definitely giving you five stars when we get home,” he says.
“I hope you’ll give me five stars way before then.”
“How do you feel about skipping our dinner reservation and getting room service instead?” he asks.
“Only if I get to be dessert.”
“Let’s finish this and get back to the room,” he says.
Despite the pouring rain and my shaky legs, I get to my feet. “Say less.”
He laughs as I paddle away.
21
JESS
“These things are driving me nuts.” I look down at my phone. “What the hell is this?”
“What’s going on?” Pippa asks.
“I keep getting these texts about octopuses.”
She laughs. “What? Why?”
