Page 31 of The Quirky Vet

Right on cue, a holler from the dance floor gets our attention. We turn our heads in time to see Ryde, who's clearly had one too many, grinding and twerking up on Linus.

"Yeah," Fitz mutters. "Looks like he really wants to win employee of the month."

I shake my head, biting back a grin. "Read between the lines, Fitz. I'm not talking about Ryde."

He takes another sip of his drink. "Yeah. I know, mate."

A red-tailed black cockatoo lets out its deep, distinctiveka-ka-kacall in a nearby tree.

"Why haveyoubeen acting weird?" I ask, staring straightahead. "Has the non-freak-out period expired and now you're firmly entrenched in freak-out territory?"

He lets out a warm chuckle. "You're the overthinker in this rel—relationship, not me."

I turn my head, and our eyes meet. And yep, he doesn't look like he's freaking out. Just me, then. Good to know.

I hear a squawk and think it's a bird, only to see that Polly has now joined Ryde and an increasingly mortified-looking Linus on the dance floor.

"I'm sorry if I've been acting differently," he says, his voice deep and steady. "I guess I've been taking stock."

"Of what?"

"Of us."

"I have no idea what that means."

"You know, we've always been…close."

I'm still staring straight ahead. "Uh-huh."

"People talk, mate. We both know it. Heck, we do it ourselves about others." Over on the dance floor, Ryde appears to be attempting to do the splits. "I've been thinking about what you said, about how being married to me isn't the worst thing in the world."

That draws a small smile out of me. "I probably only think that because I don't have to deal with your morning death breath."

"That's nothing compared to my morning farts. They're fucking deadly." We both laugh. "Seriously, though," he says, as we both turn to face each other. "I have to say, being married to you isn't as weird as I thought it would be either."

"It isn't?"

"No." He runs his fingers along his beard, finds an ornament, and starts fiddling with it. "The joke my parents love to say is that you and me, we're like an old married couple."

I roll my eyes. Fitz's parents are…special. "Are you going to tell them?"

"Yeah. I will. Eventually." He doesn't sound thrilled at theprospect. "I'm not looking forward to their reaction, but we've told our friends, your grandpa knows, so it's only right to let my folks know, too."

I bob my head slowly. "I can be there with you when you do it. Might make it easier for you."

"Thanks. I'll need the backup." He straightens his legs out in front of him. "But back to what I was saying, I'm sorry for being withdrawn these past few days. It's nothing bad, I assure you."

"Okay." I'm still not clear on where we stand, though, so I hedge, "What does this mean for us? For our legally wedded status?"

He shrugs a shoulder. "If you're in no rush to end our marriage, then neither am I."

"Really?"

"Really." He pauses. "I'm not saying we should stay married until your grandpa croaks?—"

"I'm not saying that either."

He grins. "I know. But since it feels like we may have some unresolved business, let's focus on getting that sorted out first."