I must be staring at him like the crickets are still performing, because he chuckles and points at the lounge chairs.
“Want to sit for a bit?”
I nod, accepting what is clearly going to be talk session 2.0 for today.
Chapter eight
Yosh
Twilight is still in full glory when we settle into the lounge. Samira approaches with a tray of drinks.
“Hi, Doctor Aoki. Mister McKenna. Could I offer the two of you a cold glass of ginger water?”
“That would be great.” I give her a warm smile before nodding at her bandaged thumb. “How’s it feeling?”
She stretches her arm and flexes her fingers. “A bit annoying when serving, but I’m managing.”
“Good. Be careful with it. I’m proud of my Frankenstein work.”
She giggles and sets down the glasses of ginger water. Tom offers a quick thanks before lifting his drink. He takes a sip as he watches Samira move to the next table. His eyes shoot to me.
“So, she was your emergency yesterday, huh?”
I nod. “She was.”
“That’s one pretty-looking emergency.”
Leaning back in his chair, he swirls his glass before taking another sip. “I figured you were the ‘saving damsels in distress’ type.”
That’s why you’re in front of me.
“She cut her thumb on broken glass, Tom. It wasn’t a fairytale rescue.”
“Still. You droppedmoito help her.”
I give him a look. “Don’t even start, McKenna.”
“You’re no fun. But okay, I get it. Being here isn’t supposed to be fun.”
I try to keep my cool. At this rate, Tom McKenna is going to give me a heart attack.
No, probably not the best thing to joke about considering Tom had a cardiac arrest not long ago.
I put down the glass and cross my legs.
“So, Tom, why did you create so much chaos this morning?”
His jaw tightens. Something tells me he hoped it had all been forgiven. Or better yet, forgotten.
Well, that’s not how this works.
He inspects the night sky. “It’s not easy for me to open up. I’m used to keeping my thoughts and feelings locked away. I’m always surrounded by people, but I won’t let anyone get too close.”
Right. Basic math after this morning, but it's brave that he dares to admit it out loud.
“Jay always taught us that no one outside of our family can be trusted. That they will use our words against us. So I learned to always hide my affairs and keep control. I know it’s not an excuse, but I think that’s why I did what I did this morning.”
I watch how he’s fixed on the stars like they’re going to whisper in his ear what to do. There’s truth in his voice. The first knot tangled in years of conditioning is loosening. That went surprisingly easy.
