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I turn around, stride to the table, and take a seat.
Swiftly, I glue my eyes to the fruit platter, pretending I don’t notice his scrutinizing gaze over my face.
He lights a cigarette. Slowly, he blows out the smoke, his eyes on me.
“What happened out there?” he asks.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, Senna,” he says calmly yet assertively.
“It’s nothing important,” I say softly.
“Why are you spooked then?”
I’m doing my best to hold his gaze.
“I got a phone call from someone who said he knew me. I got a little nervous, and I instructed Harper to get me a new number.”
“Who was it?”
“I have no idea,” I say, my voice steady, my eyes still connected with his.
The lie is flawless––if you ask me––yet I’m not so sure he buys it.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah...” I say quietly.
He pauses, taking a drag off his cigarette. Unhurriedly, he releases the smoke.
“Is there anything I should know?” he asks.
I lower my eyes and shake my head a couple of times, picking a slice of apple from the platter.
The silence grows while I wait to be challenged by him at any moment.
To my surprise, he doesn’t do it.
“Okay,” he says, his voice lined with suspicion.
“Listen...” I say, flicking my gaze up. “I’d like to take a break from work and go away for a few days. I want you to come with me.”
He looks at me, intrigued.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Up north,” I say, smiling faintly. “It’s cold and snowy this time of year, but the place I have in mind is beautiful.”
He tips his head down, glancing briefly at his hands before looking at me.
“What place?”
“Where I grew up. We can leave on Monday and return at the end of the week. You can still visit Sara next weekend.”
He narrows his eyes as he brings his cigarette to his lips and studies me intently for a few more moments, rendering me nervous.
Just when I’m about to push out of my chair and leave the table, he speaks again.
