Chapter 14

We spent the late morning in a mud bath while listening to the sounds of melodic harps, dispersed from ceiling speakers. We were served mineral water and Tibetan tea. Following our baths, Chinese masseurs worked the pain out of our shoulders, legs, and backs.

Face down on a comfortable leather masseur bed in a plain room decorated in light browns and calming whites, half-concealed by fluffy melon-colored towels, and feeling Chen’s knuckles roll against my naked spine, I listened to Liv ask, “Why are you hurting over Donlito when you hardly even know him?”

I sighed out of contentment for the massage and my companion’s valued company. “Our destinies want us as being together.”

“How do you know that? The last time I checked, you weren’t a soothsayer.”

“I just did.” I spoke in past tense, already learning to recover from the zoologist’s inflicted pain.

“Perhaps it was love at first sight.”

“I think so.”