“Why doesn’t he trust you?” America said, her voice very closely resembling a whine.

“If I really wanted to go, I would go. I just respect my husband, and I would rather get along than sit in a smoky club with lights that give me a headache. It would just make him wonder what went on, and I’d rather not go there. It’s worked so far.”

“I respect Shepley. I still go to clubs without him.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Only because I haven’t wanted to, yet. Tonight, I do.”

“Well, I don’t.”

America’s brows pulled together. “Fine. Plan B. Poker night?”

“Very funny.”

Harmony’s face lit up. “I saw a flyer for movie night tonight at Honeymoon Beach! They bring a screen right on the water.”

America made a face. “Boring.”

“No, I think it sounds fun. When does it start?”

Harmony checked her watch, and then her face fell, deflated. “In fifteen minutes.”

“We can make it!” I said, grabbing my purse. “Check please!”

Travis

“Calm your tits, dude,” Shepley said. He looked down at my fingers nervously beating against the metal armrest. We had landed safely and taxied in, but for whatever reason they weren’t ready to let us off yet. Everyone was quietly waiting for that one, tiny ding that meant freedom. Something about the ding of the fasten seat belt light that made everyone jump up and scramble to get their carry-on luggage and stand in line. I actually had a reason to be in a hurry, though, so the wait was particularly irritating.

“What the fuck is taking so long?” I said, maybe a little too loud. A woman in front of us with a grade-school-age kid turned slowly to give me a look. “Sorry.” She faced forward in a huff.

I looked down at my watch. “We’re going to be late.”

“No we’re not,” Shepley said in his typical smooth and calming voice. “We’ve still got plenty of time.”

I stretched to the side, looking down the aisle, as if that would help. “The flight attendants haven’t moved. Wait, one is on the phone.”

“That’s a good sign.”

I sat upright and sighed. “We’re gonna be late.”

“No. We’re not. You just miss her.”

“I do,” I said. I knew that I looked pitiful and I wasn’t even going to attempt to hide it. This was the first time Abby and I had spent a night apart since before we were married, and it was miserable. Even after a year, I still looked forward to when she’d wake up in the morning. I even missed her when I slept.

Shepley shook his head in disapproval. “Remember when you used to give me so much shit for acting like this?”

“You didn’t love them the way I love her.”

Shepley smiled. “You really happy, man?”

“As much as I loved her back then, I love her even more, now. Like the way Dad used to talk about Mom.”

Shepley smiled and then opened his mouth to respond, but the fasten seat belt light dinged, sending everyone into a flurry of standing up, reaching up, and getting situated in the aisle.