Chapter 71

“Thump, thump, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“See?” I said. “I’m here. I’m fine.”

“I’m glad.” Archie kissed me, long and passionately, deep and loving.

Then, my phone rang.

“Shit. My phone.”

“It’s ringing.” Archie smiled.

“And not fucked. I should have thought about it being in my pocket before I waded into water almost up to my knees.”

“I’m glad it’s not fucked.”

I smiled, until I checked the screen. Then, I wished it had been.

* * * *

I would have stopped the memory there even without the toot of Leslie’s horn. More accurate than the way I’d recalled the same experience mere hours earlier, the truer version wasn’t quite perfect, either. Not perfect and possibly not even truer.