Page 12 of King of Lies

“How about you?” I ask. “You said you have a brother?”

“Aye.”

“Who’s older?”

“I am.”

“Of course you are,” I reply. “Anyone else?”

“A baby sister who’s truly terrible,” he answers with a smile on his face that belies the fact that she’s not actually terrible and he loves her.

“Somehow, I don’t think that’s true. How old is she?”

“Eighteen.”

“Oh wow, that is young. Wait. How old are you?”

“Thirty-eight,” he says. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight.”

“Where did you go to school? Here?” he asks.

“Of course,” I smile. “You?”

“Oxford.”

“Of course you did.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asks.

“It’s a little pretentious.”

“You think I’m pretentious?” he asks me.

“No. That’s not what I meant,” I stammer.

“I know. I’m just pulling your leg.”

“So what brings you to town?” I ask.

“Business.” That’s it. That’s all he says. Just one word. Business.

“And what kind of business are you in?”

“International commerce,” he says. I’m clearly not going to get any more info out of him, so I let it go.

“How long are you in town for?” I ask and immediately cringe. I don’t want him to think that I’m desperate. It’s just that I don’t really know how to interact with people.

“Indefinitely. I’m here for as long as the job takes,” he says cryptically. “At least a few months. Plenty of time to get to know you better.”

“Ohh. Okay.”

“Now,” he says. How about dinner?”

I think about it for a second and then think why not? He’s not here forever. He’s safe. And I’ve enjoyed his company so far, even if he does make me blush a lot. “Sure.”

“Fantastic,” he claps his hands together once. “What do you like to eat?”