Page 5 of Finding Tane (Foggy Basin Season Two)

Dillon

W hen I saw Tane come into the shop the next day and head straight for the refrigerated foods I felt my shoulders relax. Some part of me had been worried I’d scared Tane off for good, and seeing him again eased that stress.

I was busy serving Evelyn, and trying to maintain my conversation with her, but my attention was on Tane.

“All those young men moving in,” she said. “That gaming company, Queen’s Ransom or whatever it is, I don’t know what it’ll do to the town.”

“Queen Gaming,” I said. “It’ll be nice to have some new blood, don’t you think?”

Evelyn pursed her lips, a sparkle in her eyes. “You're eyeing some of them up, aren't you? It’s about time you settled down with someone, you know. Had some kids maybe, now that you’ve taken over the family business.”

This was such a turn in the conversation that my cheeks flamed hot. “Evelyn, I don’t think—”

“Now, don’t be shy with me,” she said. “I’ve known you since you were a baby, and I know your parents want grandchildren.”

I swallowed, my throat dry. My gaze skittered from her and around the shop. The worst would be if some of the guys working for Queen Gaming were in right now, hearing this. Evelyn would probably try and get us married on the spot. Thankfully it was quiet, just me, Evelyn and of course... Tane.

He was so obviously listening to this conversation, a smile playing around his mouth. He caught me looking and ducked behind a display of steel-cut oats.

“Uh, well... of course, I’d like to someday...” I managed to stutter. “I’m waiting for mister right.”

“Well, maybe you could get on that Flamer app and see if any of them are the right one.”

“Flamer?”

Evelyn paid and hefted her bag on one hip. “That app for gay men.”

She seemed to be speaking louder and louder. The last two words echoed through the store.

“Uh... Tinder?” my voice was barely a gasp.

“That’s the one!”

I heard a muffled giggle from the breakfast foods.

“Maybe.” I cleared my throat. “Thanks, Evelyn, it’s always a pleasure.”

She nodded, catching sight of someone walking past outside. “Oh, there’s Sheriff Clay, I did mean to talk to him about —”

I didn’t hear what she wanted to talk to the sheriff about, as she hurried out the shop to flag him down.

Tane sidled up to the counter, setting an armful of food down on the counter. “She was a hard case, eh?”

Tane’s New Zealand accent threw me for a moment, but then I worked out what he was saying.

“Yeah, Evelyn knows everything about everyone.”

“Just like my aunty,” Tane nodded.

He had a really nice smile, it crinkled his eyes. His lips looked so soft, so full...

I was staring at his lips.

That definitely counted as weird.

I was losing the thread of the conversation. “Your aunty?” I managed to say, tearing my eyes from his lips. “You mentioned multiple aunties before I think?”

“Yeah, they’re not all my actual blood aunties,” Tane said. “Just like, women who’ve been there all my life, mum’s friends, that kind of thing. They love to know what’s going on and give their opinions freely.”

I chuckled. “My parents are both only children, so it was really just us. My folks, my sister and me.”

“Nice.” Tane handed me his card and I rang him up.

“Good to see you’re eating things with vegetables in,” I said.

The need to take care of him flared up again.

Maybe because he’d mentioned his aunties and I imagined him back in New Zealand surrounded by people?

Maybe because I wanted to taste his lips?

But it flared up and I asked him again, sure he’d turn me down.

“The offer is open, if you want to come over for a home-cooked meal some time.”

Tane blinked at me. I ducked my head and bagged his groceries.

“Thanks,” he said. “But I couldn’t impose on you, I just bought all this, after all.” He was joking, but not in a nasty way. He was making a joke of it so I didn’t freak out over being rejected.

“Of course,” I said. “Well, you know where I am if you change your mind.”

“That I do. Take care, eh?” Tane gave me a little wave and left with his bag of food.

Ivy came in not ten minutes later with her vinyl of Whetu’s work.

“You just missed him,” I said. “The man himself.”

“Aw, boo.” Ivy stuck her lower lip out dramatically. “Can I leave this here for when he comes back?”

She made like she was going to slide it in next to the till. “No! Someone will want to buy it or something, besides it’s too big and it sticks out. Put it in the back if you really have to leave it.”

Ivy rolled her eyes and went in the back.

The next day Christian was on the till when Tane came in. Tane looked tired. More than he had been any other day. He looked worn out.

My heart went out to him.

I figured the third time might be the charm and intercepted him on the way towards the take-and-bake pizzas.

“Hey, Tane,” I said.

His face lit up when he saw me. “Hey Dillon, you’re like, always here, aren’t you?”

“Well, it is my business...” I said.

“No hobbies or anything?”

“Uhm, well... not really,” I said. “I’m kind of boring to be honest. I sometimes go jogging, and I like to cook?”

Tane’s eyebrow raised.

I felt like some kind of lothario but I couldn’t help myself, I wanted to get to know him better and the only way to do that would be outside of my place of business.

“I didn’t even mean for that to be a segue, but I did want to bring up the idea of dinner with you one more time.

I know you’re just visiting but I don’t like, see you out and about a lot so I thought maybe you’re a bit lonely?

” I remembered what he’d said the day before.

“It’s no imposition. I’ll cook something healthy but delicious. What do you say?”

Tane sucked his lower lip for a moment, his expression unreadable, then he broke into a warm smile.

“Yeah, okay. That sounds nice.”

Relief flooded me, he didn’t think it was weird, or if he did, he didn’t care. He wanted to come over.

“Okay um, well, how about you come back round at closing time tonight and I’ll... cook for us?” I was instantly planning menus, trying to decide which would be best.

Tane nodded. “Great, thanks, man. Do you drink? I can bring some bottles of something?”

“Yes, I drink. You don’t have to bring anything though, it’s on me.”

Tane chuckled. “No, my mother taught me never to go to someone’s place empty-handed.”

I could understand that. “Okay then, whatever you like will be fine.”

“Great.” Tane grinned at me. “Well, I’d better find something to bring then.”

“Oh uh, my place is just upstairs, but take my number as well, in case you’re running late or something?”

Tane produced a brand new Samsung phone and opened the messaging app, he handed me the phone. “Put your number in there and I’ll text you so you have mine.”

I did as he said, punching in my numbers and then handing it back to him. A moment later my phone vibrated in my pocket.

“I guess I’ll drop by at closing time?”

“Perfect.” I nodded. “See you then.”

Tane left the store, and I went into the backroom, holding it together long enough to be out of sight of the shop before bending in half to have a mild panic reaction.

I screwed my eyes shut and gripped my knees, focusing on taking breaths in from my belly. There was nothing to worry about. It was just dinner. I could make dinner.

It was just dinner I was making for a really cute foreigner who, oh yeah, just happened to be a global phenomenon in music.

What was I thinking?

More to the point, what would I make?

I heaved in a raspy breath and forced myself back upright. I could do this. There was nothing to panic about. All I had to do was cook something edible and not be a complete weirdo.

Totally doable, right?