Page 78 of Sixty Meters Under

“Does this mean you regret what you said earlier?” she asked, her voice stern.

“It means I respect you as a person,” Lennart spoke, and her face showed disappointment.

“Oh, great!” She laughed and looked away.

“I mean… You’re a very attractive woman, and it’s only natural that men cannot resist your charm. I was… and I still am in akind of emotional slump… It’s complicated. I can’t return your feelings.” Lennart shook his head. “I wasn’t really thinking about what I was doing. I didn’t intend to hurt you.”

Leticia bit her lip, her eyes becoming misty.

“I should have told you right at the beginning, that I don’t have any wish to be in a serious relationship. I’m sorry for giving you false hope.”

“Well, you should.” She shot him a glare. “But what is done, is done.” She took a few steps forward and pressed her palms to his chest. “But maybe if you let me get really close to you, I would be able to help you feel better.”

“No. It wouldn’t work. You may end up getting even more hurt.”

“How do you know? We can start over and take it slow. I can do that.”

Lennart looked away and sighed, thinking,Not again. Why does she have to be difficult?

Leticia traversed her hand over his chest. “I like you. Why don’t you want to give us a chance? You don’t have to end it.”

“It wouldn’t be fair, for you, I mean. I don’t feel the same,” Lennart tried to explain.

“God! You’re really thoughtful.” A hint of irony laced her tone, and she pulled her hands away.

“Leticia, It’s for the best.”

She turned her back to him. “I know.”

A silence fell over the room, and Lennart considered whether it was the right time to leave, when she turned. “Maybe we could have some breakup sex? Yes! I know that for you we weren’t in a real relationship, but–”

“No. No! That’s a bad idea.” Lennart shook his head. He’d been through similar experiences in the past. He didn’t want to go through it one more time.

“Why no?”

When she put her hands on his chest again a phone rang.

Lennart realized it was his own cellphone, and recognizing his opportunity to escape, relief washed over him. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and said, “Excuse me. I need to answer this.”

Displeased, Leticia pulled away but remained standing beside him.

Lennart took a few steps into the other corner of the room. “Hugo?”

“Lennart, come into the medical room.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Anna passed out, but the doctor is already with her.”

“I am on my way!” Lennart ended the call and turned to Leticia.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“I need to go. It’s my mom.” Lennart put his phone back in his pocket, ready to leave.

“What’s with her?”

“I don’t know.”