“I’m not,” she says, cool as hell. “He’s feisty though. Must be a cutthroat.”
I rub a hand down my face. “You don’t have to narrate like a fishing guide, okay? I’m already smitten.”
She brings the fish in smooth, lets it tire itself out, and when she finally coaxes it close, I kneel with the net, barely keeping it together.
“Nice one,” I say. “But probably too small to feed anyone.”
She nods. “Let’s set it free then.”
“Right.” I gently remove the hook and send the little cutthroat on its way.
“Let’s see you try,” she says. “Trybeing the key word here.”
“Move, please. As a genius, I need more space to work.”
I rig my line and get ready for my first cast when Roxanne steps in front of me. She brings her fist to her mouth and shakes her head.
“What’s the problem?”
“Your form is really off for starters.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Is that so? What do you suggest?”
“I’m honestly not sure I can fix this, but here goes,” she says, running her arms down my shoulders. “You’re looking a little stiff, actually.”
I roll my eyes. “Veryfunny.”
“No, seriously. Are you okay if I adjust you along the way?” She’s standing in front of me now, blinking rapidly.
“You can do anything you want to me.”
“Good.” She grabs my left arm and then pushes it up over my head. “You’re holding so much tension in your shoulders. I wouldn’t want you to suffer in silence.”
I can’t help but be impressed by the fact that she remembers what I said to her during sunrise yoga, although now she’s getting her revenge by twisting me into the form of a pretzel. She pulls my lower leg out and grabs my torso with both hands and forces me to arch to the side until finally bringing my right arm straight out.
“There, that’s better,” she says, admiring her masterpiece.
“Thank goodness you were here. I would’ve screwed up my first cast.”
I stay in this form with my arms and legs bent in the most insane way and make like I’m trying to cast. I end up tossing my rod to the ground.
Roxanne holds her stomach and laughs. “Looking good, Cowboy Ken!”
“Damn, didn’t get a fish this time. Better leave the fishing up to you, the expert.”
“Good call.”
I pretend to fall and she catches me. I grab her and twirl her, our laughter echoing off the riverbank.
from afterglow to ash
ROXANNE
Duke leadsme back to camp and we walk in this comfortable silence. His arm brushes mine every so often, and each time it sends a quiet thrill through me, like my skin is still echoing the memory of touching him this morning. Although, I’m still not sure what came over me in the tent.
Okay, maybe I knowexactlywhat came over me.
It was Duke Faraday. It’s every time I’m close to him now. Having this realization irritates me, though. The hill I was ready to die on was that love doesn’t come suddenly. It takes time to mean something.
