“Chris Hemsworth and I were born on the same day. I’ve never seenStar Wars. I’m an orphan.”
“Star Wars,” I said somberly.
“I may have a tramp stamp but I’m still a man.”
I smiled softly at him. “I’m sorry about your parents.”
He went very still. “Mom died when I was ten.”
My heart absolutely ached for him. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you,” he said and slid a smile in place. Always with the smile.
“Did your dad raise you?”
“Yeah. Dad’s American from Colorado. After she died, he brought me back here to be closer to his family. Also, I think, to get away from all the memories.”
I nodded. “I can understand that. Your dad?”
A shadow moved over his face. “Early-onset Alzheimer’s.”
“Was that hard? He must have been young, if you’re only thirty-four,” I asked. Suddenly I was desperate to understand more. I guess I’d assumed someone so happy must have lived a charmed life.
He scratched at his chin where there was a hint of a dark blond five-o’clock shadow. “So you were paying attention. Chris and I were twins separated at birth. I don’t have any proof outside my stellar good looks.”
“You certainly don’t lack for confidence,” I muttered.
He was avoiding the subject. I may have RBF but he hid with smiles and silly charm.
“Ah, don’t make that face,” he said. “I’m fine. I promise. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. It’s a downer.”
“You don’t have to …” I said but I wasn’t sure how to finish. But really what I was thinking was that it was fucking tragic. I was about to ask if he was really okay but he stood again and brushed his pants off.
“Actually, we should probably head back,” he said.
“Okay.” This time I didn’t argue. I felt … drained. And sad. I wanted to be alone too.
We packed up in silence but it didn’t take long. I wished there was more to pack. I was ready to be alone but I also wanted him to talk more. It wasn’t just his alluring accent either. This was a side of Sanders I hadn’t seen and it intrigued me.
“Sienna Diaz, huh?” he said a few minutes later.
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. It’s a long story.”
He nodded when I shut that line down. I was so not ready to talk about Jethro Winston.
“Why did your parents forget to pick you up?” he asked.
I froze. I had thought we’d skated past that accidental overshare.
“Geez, asking all the easy ones. They’re just a little flighty,” I quickly added. “Ya know what’s weird?”
He held my focus for a beat before sighing. “What?”
“I’ve never lost that game before. I mean I still didn’tlose. But I’ve never been so close,” I said as we began to walk back.
“It is really weird.” He studied the ground carefully as he stepped. More carefully than the trail required. “I’ve been playing this game with people for years and never seen this sort of success rate. I thought I had perfected lying.”
“Not to sound like a psycho …” I said.
