Page 18 of Valley of the Shadow
“Oh, good one.” Dez wrote it down. “Plus if you get it now, it’ll never fade or anything, right?”
“I’ll have to check on that, but probably not.”
“What else?”
“Mmmm. Kind of goes with playing outside, but get as tan as possible without turning into a lobster.”
Dez nodded as she wrote. “Always a fine, fine line with our pale Irish skin, but we’ll do our best.”
“Do you really think weight lifting to get Michelle arms is out of the question?”
“How important are biceps to you really?”
“Good point.” Natalie narrowed her eyes. “What won’t I be able to— Oooh! I need to get drunk.”
Dez winced. “Are you sure?”
“Load up on aspirin and don’t talk to me about sulfites, you ninny. We’re getting smashed. At least one night.”
“All right.” Dez groaned a little writing that one down. “What else?”
“Rock climbing!”
“You do realize you’re going to turn into an earth vampire, right?”
“Exactly. Once I’m a vampire, there won’t be any challenge in rock climbing. I want to try it when I can still get an adrenaline rush.”
“Okay, fair enough.” Dez wrote it down.
“Watch the sunrise every morning.”
“Definitely. And the sunset.”
Natalie smiled. “I do that already. That’s when Baojia wakes up.”
“Aww.” Dez put her pencil down. “You’ll never have to say goodbye, Nat. Have you thought about that? You’ll never have to say goodbye.”
“Nope.” Natalie felt her heart swell. “That’s the best part.”
“More.” Dez picked up her pen again.
“Waterskiing?”
“We can try.”
“Kayaking?”
“Definitely. I saw some kayaks in the barn.”
“Scuba diving?”
Dez pursed her lips. “But wouldn’t diving actually be better after you turn, because then you don’t have to wear any of that awful gear ’cause you won’t need to breathe?”
“Good point. Leave scuba diving off.”
“Okay, what else?”
“Lots and lots of food!”
