Sink: The Lost World by Perrin Briar Page A

both parents. It’s tough.”
    “I’m a stranger threatening to take Cassie’s father away,” Zoe said.
    “But you’re not taking me away from her,” Bryan said.
    “No, but she thinks that way,” Zoe said.
    “How’s Aaron?” Bryan said.
    “Aaron’s fine,” Zoe said.
    “But he’s still clearly not thrilled about having me in his life,” Bryan said.
    “Who would be?” Zoe said.
    Bryan smiled, enjoying the brief moment of levity.
    “Thanks,” he said. “It was the first time we all met. Things can only get better from here on out.”
    “I hope so,” Zoe said. “I don’t much relish the idea of living tonight over and over again every day.”
    “So, you’re open to trying again?” Bryan said.
    Zoe thought for a long moment.
    “Yes,” she said. “But I don’t want to just go on a date next time.”
    “What then?” Bryan said.
    “I don’t know,” Zoe said. “I haven’t had time to think about it. At least last night was a memorable evening.”
    “It was certainly that,” Bryan said.
    “I’m sure in a few years we will look back on this and laugh,” Zoe said. “It’s just not happening right now.”
    Bryan’s eyes twinkled with mischief.
    “Did you see the look on the two female diners’ faces?” he said, grinning broadly.
    Zoe covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.
    “They looked like the world was going to come to an end!” Bryan said.
    “To them, it probably was,” Zoe said.
    “Maybe we could go to the batting cages on our next dinner date,” Bryan said. “Work out some of our aggression.”
    Zoe shook her head.
    “We need something where we can spend more time together,” she said.
    “We can’t think of it now,” Bryan said. “We need something to help stimulate our little grey cells.”
    “What do you suggest we do?” Zoe said.
    Bryan raised two fingers. Pinched between them was a key card with a number printed on it.
    “Make up sex is some of the best sex there is,” he said.
    Zoe took the key.
    “Give me ten minutes,” she said.
    “You’ve got five,” Bryan said. “I’ll never be able to wait ten.”

17
     
     
    Bryan lay in bed with the sheet twisted around his waist. He blew out a circle of smoke from his cigarette and sighed with content.
    “Smoking’s bad for you, you know,” Zoe said.
    “Really?” Bryan said.
    “There were a few adverts about it a while ago,” Zoe said.
    “I must have missed them,” Bryan said, taking another drag. “It helps me to think.”
    He offered it to Zoe. She gave him a flat stare.
    “If you think I’d ever do that you mustn’t know me very well,” she said.
    “I can always hope,” Bryan said. “It’s nice to unwind.”
    “I thought that’s what we just did,” Zoe said.
    “True,” Bryan said. “This is more a case of relaxing after all the effort.”
    “What effort?” Zoe said. “I did most of the work.”
    “I beg to differ,” Bryan said.
    “Beg all you want,” Zoe said.
    Bryan stubbed out the cigarette.
    “I think I came up with what we should all do next time,” Zoe said.
    “Go on,” Bryan said.
    “We should all go on a trip together,” Zoe said.
    “What kind of trip?” Bryan said.
    “Something with no distractions,” Zoe said. “We need to spend more quality time together, get to know each other. Really get to know each other.”
    “Cassie has always wanted to go to Italy,” Bryan said. “We could go there.”
    “It’s too far,” Zoe said. “In case something like the dinner date goes wrong, I want to be able to return home quickly.”
    “A domestic trip, then,” Bryan said. “Where?”
    “Out in the countryside maybe,” Zoe said. “Camping.”
    Bryan laughed.
    “What’s so funny?” Zoe said.
    “We could go anywhere, do anything, and you want to go camping?” Bryan said.
    “We’ll have stuff to do together,” Zoe said. “Collect firewood, find food, rafting, maybe. All good experiences for building relationships.”
    “I can just imagine the