“Damn. Are you in the fucking witness protection program, or what?”
Dimples appear in his cheeks, a mischievous glow settling over him. It’s hypnotic.
I get lost in it, then realize I still haven’t answered.
“Allright,” he says. “No questions about family. What can you give me?”
I set down my fork, folding my arms. I want to give him something. I really do. But it’s hard. Then again, I’ve always been my own worst enemy when it comes to this.
Let’s just do it.
“What do you want to know?”
Tom’s look changes; he wasn’t expecting this. I enjoy watching him glitch, even if only for a moment until he makes a smooth recovery.
“Fine, I’ll go easy on you,” he says with a grin. “What do you do in your free time?”
I crack my fingers.
“Morning runs along the shore. Swimming. Reading about science and spirituality.” I shrug. “Great combination, I know. And…eating.”
I laugh softly.
“Actually, I really love eating.”
He narrows his eyes. He’s about to say something but I cut in before he can.
“I try to eat clean, but I’ve got a weakness for pastries. Dairy-free, I’m lactose intolerant, which can be a challenge.”
Tom blinks and his mouth drops slightly. Obviously he didn’t expect me to be this straightforward.
The way he licks his lips tells me he’s recalibrating. Then he opens fire.
“How old are you?”
“Thirty-four. Same as you.”
“And how long have you been living on the island?”
“Almost four years.”
“Okay… what did you do before that?”
“I was a medic in the military.”
He scoffs.
“What!? You’re fucking joking me. No way. You’re lying.”
I give him a vague look and wait. It drives him a little insane, I can tell by the way he tries to keep his wild self in check.
I laugh. “I swear, Tom. I’m not lying.”
He tops up my glass like it will somehow get me to spill everything, his eyes stay locked on me the entire time.
“So tell me, what was it like?”
I sigh.
