Page 46 of Time To Learn

10

Kristian

Friends?

What a load of horse shite. I don’t do friends with women—it’s not my style. Since Anne Larsen gave me my first real kiss when I was 12, girls stopped being merely friends I could hang out with, and they became somethingelse.

Something thrilling. Something that I spent a whole lot of time studying in order to find out what made themtick.

Girls became women, and now, as I sit here in the pub, waiting for Laura to come back with my beer, I wish I had solved the great, big mystery that theyare.

Laura is the biggest oneyet.

I have to behave myself. I meant it when I said that I try not to break the promises that I make, and I’m not about to start.

Still, I’d wish that fate would stop cock-blocking me. It’s fucking annoying.

“So,” Laura’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Tell me about yourself, Kristian.”

I bark out a laugh at her direct approach.

“What do you want toknow?”

She shrugs as she sits down in front ofme.

“The usual, I suppose.”

Small talk was never my strong suit, but I’ll try. For her, I’m pretty sure I’d try anything to crack her armour.

I take a gulp of my draught and clear my throat before I lock my eyes withhers.

“I’m twenty-six, have no siblings, and I came to Scotland to forget someone.”

She raises her eyes at me, probably surprised with my blunt approach.

“I see. But why Scotland?”

Grateful that she doesn’t pry, I shrug.

“I met Alex a couple of years back at a big tattoo festival in Copenhagen, and we’ve kept in touch since then. While I wanted to get away, I need to work. So, I emailed him, asked him for a job, and here Iam.”

“Hmm. You live with your aunt?” She sits back in her chair, getting more comfortable. She places her elbow on the armrest and rests her head on a palm. My eyes fall to the small, strange marks on her lower arm, but even though I’m puzzled by them, I don’t ask what theyare.

“Yes, though I’ve been thinking about finding some place else to live. It’d be nice to have more privacy.”

“Yeah, I understand. I love living on the farm—so does Ailith—but it’s not always easy. Still…” she shrugs, giving me a small smile, “it’s practical.”

I purse my lips at her. “I can seethat.”

An awkward silence falls between us, and we both reach for our drinks at the same time. I grin at Laura, amused by how strange the situation is. When her eyes seem to smile back at me, my gut tightens withwant.

“So, what about you?” I lean forward in my seat again. “I’m trying very hard not to overstep any boundaries already, but are you divorced?”

Her smile vanishes right away as shadows swarm in her eyes. She shakes her head atme.

“Widowed.”

I want to bite my tongue.