Page 76 of The Two of Us

“A restart?” Ambrose laughs. “This isn’t a video game, Kitty Cat.”

She pins him with a glare and he stops laughing. She repeats herself, firmer this time. “A restart.”

I give her a weak smile. “You know you don’t have to convince me, but this one?” I point at Ambrose. “You’ll never get him—”

“I’m down,” Ambrose says.

Cat and I say, “What?” at the same time.

“You want a restart. I could use one. Leave all the old shit behind. Let’s do it.”

I narrow my eyes, studying him but I can’t find anything in his expression that says he’s playing us.

Cat thrashes in excitement and we cover our faces to block the water flying everywhere.

“Let’s shake on it,” she says. Ambrose and I take hold of her hand. She rolls her eyes. “Grab each other’s hand, you two.”

I mentally prepare myself for whatever excuse Ambrose is about to spout but his warm hand interlocks with mine in the water.

He holds my gaze and my throat constricts. “Restart.” He nods.

I take it with a grain of salt but allow myself to give him a small smile. “Restart.”

Cat sighs in satisfaction. “Now that that’s settled, Ambrose, stop tickling my foot,” she chides.

“I’m not tickling your foot, genius. You both are holding my hands.”

Cat and I stare at each other, our eyes widening in fear. Cat’s scream is piercing and soon Ambrose and I join her. We kick our way back to shore, laughing and screaming, and for the first time in a long time, our laughter is a chorus that binds us together in the quiet night.

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