Page 97 of Meet Cute Reboot
“Did you see any alligators?”
“No. Did you?”
“I saw a three-foot snake, but I decided not to mention it.”
I smack his arm with the back of my hand. “You did not!”
“You’re right. I didn’t.”
“Don’t even get me started on snakes.” I lean into him and laugh.
We both take swigs of water. Luke props his forearms on his knees. A breeze swishes the leaves overhead, cools my sweat-dampened skin. Korg finds something in a nearby patch of cordgrass. He tentatively pokes his nose through the strands before darting through, the grass closing behind him like a curtain.
“What if he gets lost?” I ask.
“He won’t. They have noses for that.”
“What if he gets eaten by an alligator?”
“I hadn’t thought of that possibility until now.”
I tap my temple with my index finger. “This brain never stops.”
Luke peers down at me, a soft smile on his lips. “I know.”
“Korg!” I call. The grass stirs as his body threads through. A moment later, his nose appears. It’s surrounded by green. “Get back here.”
He perks up at my command and barrels toward me. I hardly have time to raise my hands before Korg attacks me with his tongue. I feel like I’m rolling through an automatic carwash with all the wet, floppy swipes and velvety licks.
“Korg, get off her.” Luke settles his dog and pats the ground. “Sit.” Korg responds dutifully and perches beside his master.
We listen to the breeze and the soft lap of the water against the sandy shore as insects buzz behind us.
Luke breaks our silence by clearing his throat. “Last night you said you wanted to know everything. There’s more I want to tell you, something that changed me. Something—”
I cover Luke’s mouth with my hand. He continues talking in muffled tones, most of the words indecipherable. When I let go, he chuckles.
“I get the hint,” he says.
We’re silent for a moment.
“But seriously,” Luke continues, “whenever you want to hear the rest, I can fill you in.”
I flick an iridescent green beetle from my arm. “Not today. I don’t want to ruin the moment.”
“It’s not bad.”
“Some other time.” I rest my hand on his forearm and squeeze. He smiles shyly and ducks his head. Time wears on, but I don’t let go. He finally places his hand on mine.
“Um...” He swallows. “Should we talk about what happened before I left?”
“What do you mean? This?” I roll onto my knees, take Luke’s head in my hands, and lift his lips to mine. His plump lips are both salty and sweet. He presses his hand against the small of my back and we recline against the sand, our lips never parting.
I feel a wet nose against my ear and hear the rapid in-out of curious canine breath. Korg’s trying to get a piece of the action. I dissolve into laughter and fall onto my back. Luke looks at his dog wryly.
“Bad dog,” he says.
“I think he’s jealous.”