I laugh, still moving around her room. Two paddles are propped up in the corner with a harness dangling from a nail next to them.
“What's all of this?”
She walks over to me, standing by my side. “I used to be a white-water rafting instructor. Every summer, tourists come here and want to float the river, and I was one of the ones that would take them.”
“And the harness?”
She shrugs. “I like to rock climb.”
“I've got to say you're the most adventurous chemist I have ever met.”
“Have you met many chemists?”
My lips press down. “I don't think I have.”
“And what about you?” She spins around, falling back to sit on her bed. “You know all these things about me? But I hardly know anything about you.”
That's probably because there's not much to know about me. Or really, there's not much I can tell people about myself.
“I like sushi.”
“And?” she presses.
“I like climbing too.”
Buildingsthat is. I’ve never done rock climbing, but I’m sure it’s pretty similar.
“Okay, what else?”
“I also like kicking things.”
Lacee laughs. “Like what?”
People.
“Balls,” I say with a smirk. “Soccerballs.”
Her lips spread into a smile. “I’m glad you clarified that.”
“And, I've never been to Leavenworth, Washington at Christmastime.”
“You’re going to love it.”
“I’m not really a Christmasy kind of guy. I’ve never gotten into the spirit of the season.”
“Why not?”
Because I’ve never had a family. Because Christmas is about being with the ones you love, and I don’t love anyone.
I settle for a more straightforward answer. “Because I’m so busy.”
“Consulting?”
“That’s right.”
“Are there a lot of businesses that want toconsultduring the holidays?”
“You’d be surprised.” I smile, liking how she challenges all the bull crap I say.
