“He jumped down, and then leaned across the table into my face, “And I’m tryin’ to make some girl….tell me, uh baby better come back, maybe next week, ‘cuz you see I’m. On. A losin’ streak! I CAN’T GET NO! Uh no, no, no!”

“Galen?”“Hmm?”“You can put me down now.”“I’m not ready yet.” He tightens his hold.“You don’t have to hold—““Emma? Can you hear me?”“Uh, yes. I can hear fine. I just can’t see—““That’s a relief. Because for a minute there, I thought maybe you didn’t hear me when I said I’m not ready yet.”“Jackass.”

“He chuckles. “I won’t pry, but I should probably get some discipline in here somewhere. Or some fatherly advice. What’s your poison?”See? Cool Dad. I stand up, shakin’ my head. “Just tell me how one girl can make me act like a psycho, then I’ll be on my way.”“You know, I’m still tryin’ to figure that out.”

“Manchee comes outta the bushes and sits down next to me cuz I’ve stopped right there in the middle of a trail. He looks around to see what I might be seeing and then he says, ”Good poo, Todd.” ”I’m sure it was, Manchee.”I’d better not get another ruddy dog when my birthday comes. What I want this year is a hunting knife like the one Ben carries on the back of his belt. Now that’s a present for a man.“Poo,” Manchee’s says quietly.”

“I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. "We're supposed to be celebrating our two-week anniversary tonight.""Uh, news for you, honey - two weeks is no anniversary.""What should I tell him? I don't even want to go.""Tell him you just got a new bra and it's shy around strangers.”

“An unbearable smug look came over his usually impassive face."Uh-huh. You just keep telling youself that. You looove me."I took a swing at him, but he jumped back nimbly, and all I did was jar my left arm, making it hurt.He laughed at me, then pointed at the woods ouside the window."Pick a tree. I'll go carve our initials in it.”