Page 128 of True Blue

“Oncologist.”

“Cancer,” he says, nodding. “Impressive.”

“And you?”

He shrugs. “Oh, I’m just a boring old barrister. Not as exciting as your career.”

I tilt my head back and forth. “Cancer isn’t really exciting.”

“Poor choice of words,” he says, wincing. “I was speaking more from admiration. It’s quite a noble career you have.”

“It’s odd to say I enjoy it, but…” I trail off, shrugging.

“You enjoy it,” Sebastian says, studying me.

“I enjoy the patient connection. I enjoy helping people. I enjoy inspiring hope,” I say. “I obviously don’t enjoy giving people a sad diagnosis. I don’t enjoy the losses. I don’t enjoy the death that surrounds my job.”

“I bet you’re a fantastic doctor.”

“Thank you,” I say genuinely.

He smirks. “Do you get the Dr. Barbie comments a lot?”

“Sometimes,” I laugh, shaking my head. “But then I talk to people for five minutes.”

“Well, we’ve only been speaking for about three—what is going to change my mind in the next two?”

“You’ll probably realize how icy I am.”

Sebastian shakes his head. “You don’t seem icy to me.”

I take a long sip of my drink, taking my time before answering. “You don’t know me yet.”

“I’m trying to.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because you’re beautiful.”

“Original.”

“Truthful,” he smirks, sipping from his own drink.

The energy between us should feel charged. I’ve done this song and dance before, the flirting. It’s like putting on a mask for me, playing the role of seductress. Only one man has ever seen me with that mask completely off, and everything that I had ever done for him was authentic. He made me feel sexy, not that I had to perform being sexy.

I feel like I’m performing now.

The energy isn’t really there, but I can admit that it’s kind of fun to wear that mask again.

Sebastian and I fall into an easy conversation for the next hour, bantering back and forth, speaking about our careers. By our second drink, I’m still performing, but there is a connection between Sebastian and me. I’m just not sure what kind. I think it’s some type of understanding skin-deep, something neither of us can name yet.

Sebastian peers at my face, leaning closer to me.

“You really do have one of the most beautiful pairs of eyes I’ve ever seen,” Sebastian grins. “Did you know that?”

“Is that one of your lines you use on women?”

“It works on men too,” Sebastian smirks.