Page 11 of Marcus

She’s always been obsessed with bears. Selene’s words replay in my mind.

Pure coincidence.

“Actually, no. I’ve lived in places all over the world, and everywhere has always felt temporary. Something about this place feels like home. Like this might be where I’ve always belonged.”

Then Ranger asks her something, so she looks away from me.

Selene steps closer to me. “Are you over here admiring Aspen’s ‘fine eyes’?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

She laughs. “This is what happens when you grow up in a household of only boys. You miss brilliant references like that because you have no appreciation of literature.”

I just stare at her.

“Pride and Prejudice. At least tell me you’ve seen one of the movie versions?”

I shake my head.

“What about Pride and Prejudice?” Aspen asks.

“I was just giving Marcus here a hard time for being culturally illiterate because he always misses my Pride and Prejudice references,” Selene says.

“Maybe you should read the room, Selene. Not everyone here is obsessed with Mr. Darcy.”

“Ah-ha!” Selene says pointing at me. “You do know something about it.”

I roll my eyes and try to stop staring at Aspen every three seconds.

“Apparently he thinks the Fast and the Furious movies are the height of sophistication.”

“Well, they are entertaining movies with lots of eye candy, to be sure. But don’t forget that they significantly explore themes about found family that really resonate with a modern audience.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I mutter.

Aspen looks at me with a frown. “What? Am I not allowed to have opinions on movies? Because that kind of cultural gatekeeping is so passé.”

Mine.

Of course my bear would like her sass. Not ours!

Then her rabbit pulls away from her and hops off towards a couple of squirrels chasing each other near the pond.

“Abner!” she yells.

“I’ll get him,” I say. I don’t know why. I don’t need to chase her mutant rabbit. Yet, here I am doing exactly that.

He’s faster than I would have thought considering his size. Somehow, he gets his leash looped between a tree and a park bench, making the perfect trip wire for me. Which, of course, I don’t see, until I’m flying head over ass into the pond.

Because this fucking day can’t get any better.

I stand up, wiping the water out of my eyes. My buddies have gathered around and are laughing their asses off.

“Now you really are Mr. Darcy,” Selene says.

She and Aspen both laugh. At least she’s once again holding her pet’s leash.

“Thank you for trying to save him, as misguided as your attempts were,” she says to me. “Denver, shall we?”