taking a sip from a soda can, I nibbled on the sandwich. Tuna.
Rom didn’t answer. He merely stared down at the blanket under us, tracing the geometric pattern that covered it with his index finger.
After a few seconds I broke the silence.
“What’s the matter? Is the information classified or something? If so, I’m cool with it.”
“I lack understanding of this phrase 'I’m cool with it.'” Rom glanced up at me. You say you are cold?” He made a motion to stand. “My jacket will assist.”
“No.” I laughed and waved him back into a sitting position. “I’m cool with it means that it’s okay. If you don’t want to tell me where you’re from, it’s fine.”
“Accord.” He nodded. “But no secret exists. My country is known as Augustinia. I live in the great city of New Rome.”
“You mean you used to live there. You live here now.”
He seemed surprised by my words. After a few seconds his expression cleared. “Accord."
I searched my memory but came up with nothing.
“I never heard of Augustinia.”
“Many a place exists of which you lack awareness,” Rom said picking up a second sandwich.
“You’re probably right about that.” I played with the chain around my neck. “I never was much good at geography.
“The necklace you wear. The design has familiarity.” Rom took a bite and chewed. My goodness he was handsome even when he chewed.
“Yes.” I pulled it from my cleavage to show the swirling circle metal disc at the end. “It’s where I got part of the design for my tag.”
“Tag?”
“The symbol I use to mark when I’m spelunking. It’s a big K with this counterclockwise swirl on the end.”
“There is appearance of age in the necklace,” he observed.
“My grandmother gave it to me when I was five, just before she died. The charm belonged to her mother—my father's grandmother.” My voice choked on the word father. Tears burned my eyes and I blinked them away.
Rom dropped the sandwich and curled his hand around mine, tangling our fingers together. In amazement I stared at him as he bent his head and brought my hand to his mouth. His soft lips gently brushed against my skin and I had to blink hard again to keep tears from falling, this time for a different reason.
Still clasping my hand, Rom leaned toward me and pressed his lips to mine in a soft caress. I’d never been kissed before. At least not by someone who wasn't related to me...And certainly not by a gorgeous guy.
Hoping I was doing it right, I held my breath and closed my eyes. Tingles radiated from my lips outward in my body like a sunburst as his mouth moved on mine. Then it was over.
Pulling back, we smiled at one another. Rom retrieved his sandwich and took another bite, chewing and smiling at the same time.
I rushed into conversation to cover my awkwardness.
“I wonder how the crew are doing with the race.”
He swallowed. “They have not gone to the hospital, I think.”
“No, they’ve gone to the railroad roundhouse.” I picked up my sandwich, but couldn't take a bite. Too many butterflies inhabited my stomach and there was no room for more tuna.
“Excellent.” Rom bit into the sandwich again. After he swallowed, Rom smiled again and it soon turned to a grin. “This dining together has more pleasure than spelunking.”
He seemed way too pleased with himself.
“Yes,” I said tentatively. “But you really can’t compare—”
“The spelunking leads to injury.” He took a bite of sandwich and chewed. He gestured toward my leg. “This continues to cause pain?”
“Not really.” I wasn't sure where this but I didn't like it.
“You do not spelunk again, I think.”
“Huh?”
“You do not spelunk,” he said.
“Do you want Pepperoni with that?”
“I lack understanding of pepperoni.” Rom lost his smile.
“Well, since you were issuing orders I thought I would check.”
“I do not want you hurt again,” Rom said. “This is preference. So I ask you to
Rom didn’t answer. He merely stared down at the blanket under us, tracing the geometric pattern that covered it with his index finger.
After a few seconds I broke the silence.
“What’s the matter? Is the information classified or something? If so, I’m cool with it.”
“I lack understanding of this phrase 'I’m cool with it.'” Rom glanced up at me. You say you are cold?” He made a motion to stand. “My jacket will assist.”
“No.” I laughed and waved him back into a sitting position. “I’m cool with it means that it’s okay. If you don’t want to tell me where you’re from, it’s fine.”
“Accord.” He nodded. “But no secret exists. My country is known as Augustinia. I live in the great city of New Rome.”
“You mean you used to live there. You live here now.”
He seemed surprised by my words. After a few seconds his expression cleared. “Accord."
I searched my memory but came up with nothing.
“I never heard of Augustinia.”
“Many a place exists of which you lack awareness,” Rom said picking up a second sandwich.
“You’re probably right about that.” I played with the chain around my neck. “I never was much good at geography.
“The necklace you wear. The design has familiarity.” Rom took a bite and chewed. My goodness he was handsome even when he chewed.
“Yes.” I pulled it from my cleavage to show the swirling circle metal disc at the end. “It’s where I got part of the design for my tag.”
“Tag?”
“The symbol I use to mark when I’m spelunking. It’s a big K with this counterclockwise swirl on the end.”
“There is appearance of age in the necklace,” he observed.
“My grandmother gave it to me when I was five, just before she died. The charm belonged to her mother—my father's grandmother.” My voice choked on the word father. Tears burned my eyes and I blinked them away.
Rom dropped the sandwich and curled his hand around mine, tangling our fingers together. In amazement I stared at him as he bent his head and brought my hand to his mouth. His soft lips gently brushed against my skin and I had to blink hard again to keep tears from falling, this time for a different reason.
Still clasping my hand, Rom leaned toward me and pressed his lips to mine in a soft caress. I’d never been kissed before. At least not by someone who wasn't related to me...And certainly not by a gorgeous guy.
Hoping I was doing it right, I held my breath and closed my eyes. Tingles radiated from my lips outward in my body like a sunburst as his mouth moved on mine. Then it was over.
Pulling back, we smiled at one another. Rom retrieved his sandwich and took another bite, chewing and smiling at the same time.
I rushed into conversation to cover my awkwardness.
“I wonder how the crew are doing with the race.”
He swallowed. “They have not gone to the hospital, I think.”
“No, they’ve gone to the railroad roundhouse.” I picked up my sandwich, but couldn't take a bite. Too many butterflies inhabited my stomach and there was no room for more tuna.
“Excellent.” Rom bit into the sandwich again. After he swallowed, Rom smiled again and it soon turned to a grin. “This dining together has more pleasure than spelunking.”
He seemed way too pleased with himself.
“Yes,” I said tentatively. “But you really can’t compare—”
“The spelunking leads to injury.” He took a bite of sandwich and chewed. He gestured toward my leg. “This continues to cause pain?”
“Not really.” I wasn't sure where this but I didn't like it.
“You do not spelunk again, I think.”
“Huh?”
“You do not spelunk,” he said.
“Do you want Pepperoni with that?”
“I lack understanding of pepperoni.” Rom lost his smile.
“Well, since you were issuing orders I thought I would check.”
“I do not want you hurt again,” Rom said. “This is preference. So I ask you to
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