She led the entire race. The sound of Mark’s rubber soles hitting packed dirt and his heavy, even exhales kept her moving. She’s always run for exercise, but two years ago, when they returned to New York after their honeymoon to Antigua and all too easily fell into the daily grind, she’d kicked her workouts up a notch and started training with a goal: 10Ks, halfs, marathons. Running keeps her focused when she’s not in the lab, free from dwelling on should haves and could haves. Memories best left forgotten. It calms that restless energy clawing at her. She can’t ever sit around. She needs to be doing something, going somewhere. Be somewhere else. Always unsettled.

It must be because of Judy’s lists. Joy feels as though she’s in a constant battle with herself: where she lives, the promotions she pursues, and who she truly is. But she’d committed to complete each of Judy’s lists and intended to see them through.

Joy plants her palm on Mark’s sweaty chest, gives him a nudge. He doesn’t budge.

“Kiss for passage.” He closes his eyes and makes kissy noises.

“A massage and a kiss?” She pants, trying to catch her breath.

“I know. I drive a hard bargain.” He doesn’t give her a chance to decide. He clasps a hand behind her head and lowers his mouth to hers. Their lips connect and she gives herself over to him, his hunger.

She can feel the humidity radiate off his body. She can smell the mountain air in his hair, the damp leaves and dirt clinging to his running shoes, and the pungent odor of his workout sweat, so different from nervous sweat, or the musky scent of him after sex. She can taste the mouthwash he gargled with before their run. Cool mint.

Everything is so Mark.

Familiar. The same. Comfortable.

Mark groans. “I’ve missed you,” he murmurs against her lips.

“I’ve missed you, too.”

Long hours at work and social obligations have kept them busy, and at times together but apart. She and Mark have been the epitome of two ships passing in the night or sailing side by side at a distance. They’ll attend a niece’s birthday party and end up in different rooms, Joy talking with her sisters-in-law and Mark drinking with his brothers-in-law. A friend will host a baby shower that pulls her away for an entire Saturday. A business trip will send Mark out of town for a week. And when they’re finally home together, Netflix is their go-to rare date-night-in because they’re too exhausted to go out.

This weekend away? It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. It’s exactly what their marriage needs. A reboot. It’s also the perfect weekend to tell Mark her news.