Page 134 of Pucking Around

“I was sitting next to him in first class.” I step forward to open the taxi door for her, taking her bag from her shoulder. The attendant helps me get them into the trunk, and then I move around to the other side and slide in. Rachel is already giving the driver the address.

Rachel shifts, crossing her right leg over her left, her body angled a little closer in towards mine. “What did he mean about you paying him?”

“Nothing,” I mutter, turning my gaze to look out the window.

“Did you—” She falls silent.

Silence fills the void between us. Uncomfortable silence. I can’t help it. I have to look over.

She’s looking up at me, her expression soft. “You tried to pay him to move, didn’t you? So you could sit by me in first class?” At my silence she nods. “But he wouldn’t take your money.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I say.

“How much did you offer him?”

“I said it doesn’t matter.”

“Mars—”

“A thousand dollars,” I reply, my gaze on the green interstate signs.

She lets out a soft breath. “Oh, Mars…”

We’re silent for a few minutes.

“What did you say to him?”

I glance over again. “Hmm?”

“In Finnish. You said something to him. It didn’t sound very nice,” she adds with a small smile.

“It wasn’t,” I reply. “I told him to fuck off.”

She huffs. “Yeah, he seemed like a jerk. Say it again.”

I raise a brow. “Why?”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Obviously because I want to hear you speak Finnish. I like hearing you talk. And it’s a pretty language.”

“I was cursing at him, Rakas. I can say nicer things in Finnish.”

“Oh, don’t hold back on me now,” she says, smiling wider. “Give me a little of both. Sugar and spice. Say the curse again.”

“Suksi vittuun,” I repeat.

“Sooksy vi—what?”

“Vittuun,” I say again, unable to control my smile.

Her dark brows raise as she unscrews the cap to her diet soda. She’s always drinking either diet soda or coffee. Does the woman ever drink water? “What? Why are you smiling? Did I say it wrong?”

“No, you’re correct. Your pronunciation is good. But what you are saying is ‘ski into a cunt.’”

She snorts her diet soda, choking and laughing. “Ohmygod—ouch—Seriously? ‘Suksi vittuun’ means ‘ski into a cunt’?”

“Literally, yes. But the meaning is to go fuck off.”

She laughs again. “Okay, I like that one. Suksi vittuun. Now give me something nicer.” She’s more relaxed now. She likes talking. It eases her nerves.

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