Page 60 of The Secret to Belonging

he sees you, too

again with the killer smile

before you reach your table

he’s up

crossing the room

standing in front of you

smiling down

hazel eyes

hei

he leans in to shout over the music

hei, you say

shy and incompetent

he nods his head toward the door

fresh air?

damn, he’s cute

ja, takk

you wonder if this is what Maura meant

by age-appropriate fun

outside the club, taxis line the curb

no one drives after drinking

the fresh air is delicious

the winter night crisp and white

you lean together on a wall near the door

a police car cruises past

Amerikansk? he asks

ja, California

i was there once, he says

after military service. San Diego

he offers his hand

i’m Espen