Page 27 of Inseverable (Carolina Beach)

“Thank you,” he says almost inaudibly.

I smile brightly. “No problem. Here, have some juice. Go on now,” I prompt. “After that run you’re probably thirsty.”

He rounds the counter and slides onto the stool, appearing to ignore me as I fill the teapot with water and place it on the stove. When I’m done, I crack six eggs into the bowl and whisk them along with some salt and pepper. He tries the juice and seems to like it. But I wait for him to lift his glass again before speaking.

“Thanks for being honest with me,” I say.

He stops with the rim just below his lips and lowers his eyelids, like he’s afraid to ask, but then he does. “About what?” he says.

He braces himself, as he should. “Oh, you know, about your one night stands filled with sin and debauchery.”

“There was no debau?”

“It was right nice of you to be so up front with me. But you know what?”

He slumps in his seat. “Oh, God, what?”

“I realize I haven’t been honest withyou. At least not completely.” I add another egg to the bowl, ignoring his call to Jesus to help him. “The first guy I had?you know after that break-up I told you about? He was a nice boy?cute, too, bless his heart.” I stretch out my hands. “Thing is, he wasn’t built like a stud if you know what I mean.”

“Trinity?”

“Not even close. I can’t even tell you how embarrassing it was?for both of us, if you must know.”

By now Callahan’s rubbing his face like he’s in pain. Poor thing must have a headache. I sprinkle some cheese into the eggs and mix everything as I continue. “I mean, I didn’t even know it was inside yet.” I lift my head to find him glaring. “You know what I mean by ‘it’?”

With an agonized breath he opens his mouth, closes it, and finally mutters, “Yes, Trinity.” He snatches his glass and takes several big gulps.

“Good,” I say, nodding. “It would have been rude to saydick.”

I whip around, trying not to lose it when he starts choking on his juice. And while he probably thinks I’m certifiably insane, I’m having fun trying to draw another laugh out of him.

Call me crazy, but this rather, um, inappropriate conversation chips away at that miserable tension until there’s almost nothing left. I open his cupboards, fighting hard to keep my smile from shifting into laughter as I search for plates and prep for round two.

I take my time, giving him, and me, a second to settle before I pull two white plates from the cupboard and flounce to his side. I dismiss his scowl like it’s not even there and motion toward the glass doors leading out to the beach. “You want to eat outside? It’s pretty out.”

“Why the hell not?” he asks, his irritability causing his skin to flush.

Without another word, he takes the plates and gathers a couple of paper towels and utensils. I watch his fine ass?because hey,it is?twitch ever so nicely in those low-slung board shorts as he crosses the room and steps onto the deck.

He bends to set the table, those chiseled abs curving oh-so perfectly. The moment he’s done, he arranges the chairs so we both face the ocean. Hmm. Maybe he doesn’t want to look at me while we eat.

Nah. That can’t be it.

I pour the eggs into the pan and crank the stove. “You want toast with your eggs? I yell out.

“Yeah. I’ll get it.”

He sweeps back in and grabs a loaf of bread from the pantry. “How many pieces do you want?”

“Just one please.” In the time it takes him to toast and butter the bread, the eggs are done cooking. I follow him out with the pan and pass out our breakfast.

He’s lifting his fork to try the eggs when I say, “Now, thenextone night stand I had wasn’t much better.” He drops his fork down with aclangand leans back in his chair, slapping his hands over his face.

I take a bite out of my food. Yum. Pretty good if must say. “Bless his heart too, he tried. But his moves?you know what I mean about ‘moves’?”

He lets his hands drop. “Yes, Trinity.”

“Oh, good. It would have been awkward to explain.” I point to his eggs. “Aren’t you hungry?”

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