“That must have been awful,” I said, looking back at him.
“The other kids thought it was hysterical though. Thankfully one of them had the sense to call an ambulance.”
“Kids can be jerks,” I said, knowing this to be a fact.
“When I came round after fainting, I started to panic. I couldn’t breathe, I thought I was having a heart attack. So they pulled me off the pole.”
My eyes widened as I listened to the story.
“Turns out the pole was plugging a vein closed and when they pulled me off . . . there was just so much blood. I’d never seen so much blood in my life. It gushed out of me like a fountain. It covered me and poured onto the ground causing this literal pool at my feet. All I remember was all the redness before fainting again. I woke up the next day in the hospital. The doctors said I almost bled to death. I was lucky to make it.”
“That’s hectic,” I said.
“I had nightmares about blood for years after that.”
I smiled at him. “You have a really good excuse for hating blood then.”
He forced a small smile at me too and then another pause. A loaded one. One that made me nervous.
“I’m glad you’re here actually,” he said quietly.
“Really?”
“I wanted to talk to you. I didn’t like what happened between us last night and I wanted to explain. But when I woke up this morning, you were gone. I was worried that you might have left town.”
“I did,” I said. “And then I didn’t.”
He looked at me curiously.
“I have a job here now and looks like I’ll be staying for a while.”
“A job? Where?”
“With Samirah. I’m going to be a vet’s assistant.”
“That’s cool,” he said. “It’ll suit you working with animals, since you’re so good with Harun.”
I tsked at that. “I would hardly call myself some animal whisperer. I didn’t even like animals before Harun.”
Mark grinned. “He’s hard not to like.”
“I know. No matter how hard you try,” I said, and Mark gave a small chuckle.
“Where will you be staying?” he asked.
“Don’t know. Haven’t found a place yet,” I said, and unintentionally glanced out the kitchen window at the small cottage out back. I could see Mark was also looking at it now, and I didn’t want him to think I was hinting.Was I?
I turned back to him and smiled. “Samirah said I could sleep on her sofa for a while. Just while I find a place.”
Mark nodded. “There’re not many places to rent in town. When I first came here I really struggled to find a place.”
“I guess this place doesn’t get many renters.”
Mark and I locked eyes and he looked like he wanted to say something, so I folded my arms and waited.
“Last night . . .” he started awkwardly.
“Yes?”
