Page 63 of Broken Chords
I use the toilet, because I made it seem like that’s why I came in here, wash my hands, and head back out.
Damian stands from the edge of the bed, closing the space between us. His eyes scan over my body and examine my face. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I think I need something to eat. My stomach gets weird when I travel if I don’t eat often enough. I’ve normally had lunch by now.”
He nods, accepting my excuse. “There’s a café downstairs with outdoor seating. The sun is shining, and it’s like seventy degrees out. I want to go experience warm weather in December.”
I can’t help grinning at his lopsided smile. “You’ve never been anywhere warm in December before?”
“Not December.” He backs up and picks up a key card from the desk and slides it into his pocket. “Family vacations were always during the summer because of school. And orchestra trips were more local. We went to Seattle a few times, and that’s about as far as we’d go.” He holds the door open for me and gestures me through. “But you’re from here, so I’m sure you’re used to it. You’ll have to forgive my poor northerner ways where I’m astonished by sunshine and warm weather in the winter months.”
With a laugh, I slide my arm through his. “It does get rather gray and bleak this time of year in Spokane. You know, I can’t honestly remember the last time we had a nice sunny day.”
“It was finals week. Wednesday. The sun broke through the clouds for like an hour.”
“Ah. I must’ve been inside taking a test that hour.”
“That’s life in the inland northwest in the winter. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss the brief moments of sunshine.”
“That sounds like some kind of life motto,” I quip, intending it as a joke, but Damian turns thoughtful, his lips pursing as he pushes the button to call the elevator.
“Maybe it is. I think it’d be better as something more along the lines of, ‘Appreciate the moments of sunshine.’ Or, ‘Enjoy the moments of sunshine.’”
“That implies life’s moments of sunshine are fleeting. Do you believe that?”
He shrugs. “No. But then, I’ve had a pretty good life so far.” The elevator dings and the doors slide open, and we step into the empty car. After pushing the button for the lobby, Damian leans back against the rail and looks at me again. “What about you?”
I look up at the display counting down the floor numbers. “You know, I used to. But not so much anymore.”Not since I met you, I think but don’t say. This conversation is cheesy enough without that. And that would open the door for more questions I’m not ready to answer. Not yet.
