“[Cora:]‘Michael—that guy from the restaurant the other night—he works over there. He runs the prehistoric department.’‘I’m surprised,’ Veda said. ‘At what?’‘That you’re dating someone who reads.”

“What are you talking about?’ Cora said. Veda had a sudden image of her standing over a small child with her hands on her hips and a scowl.”

“You’re a good date,” he said.“You thought of it as a date?”He nodded. “From the beginning.”

“And I know that the past version of me is someone you would never trust. But who I am when I’m with you” he paused, “isn’t who I used to be. I don’t think I’ve been that guy since the night of our first date, so it’s not fair that you judge me like I’m still him.”

“He sighs. “If it’s any consolation, I’m not overly thrilled about being away from my wife for so long, either.”“She a cougar?” Cora asks.Karl stares at her, mouth open.“I’m just saying,” she says defensively. “He looks like the sort to snag a cougar.”She did not just say that. “Cora!”“My wife is off limits to you.” He shakes a finger at her. And then, after a moment, “She’s not a cougar.”Cora cackles brightly.”

“What are the rules? I said & he said you run & you run & you run until you fall over. There's a couple others in there for variety, he added, but that's the main one.”