Page 68 of Serenade Me

I pull away from her, and she settles onto the seat of the bike, watching me as I take a step back.

“Marius? Talk to me.” she prompts me again.

I close my eyes before I speak.

“I brought you here, to tell you… we can’t keep doing this.”

She doesn’t make a sound. Or even move.

It neither gives me the courage to continue, nor stops me, so I keep going, before I lose my nerve.

“I can’t do it to Jez. I… just can’t.”

This time she does speak.

“And did you figure this out before or after you fucked me one more time.”

“Anca…”

“I can’t fucking believe this,” I hear her mutter under her breath. And it breaks me. “What IS this place, Marius?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, is this just some random empty plot you found along the lake, and you brought me here to break up with me because no one could hear the things I’m about to say to you?”

“NO! I…”

“So I’m asking you again. Where. Are.We?” she demands, and I know she knows.

“I… I own this plot.” I finally admit.

She slides off the bike seat and turns a full 360 degrees. She waves her hand, gesturing around her. “This piece of land…”

“I own it.”

“Since when?”

“For a few years now.”

“And you brought me here…”

“Because I thought it was a nice place we could talk.”

“Bull shit.”

“Anca…”

“Why did you bring me here?”

“I don’t know… because it’s quiet.”

“Double bull shit.”

“Tell me then, why do you think I brought you here?”

“Apparently to sleep with me, once last time, before you broke my fucking heart.”

“No. And you know that’s bull shit, as well.”