Page 53 of Malliko
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked with his eyebrows raised up high.
“No. You were kind and gentle. It’s not you. I’ll talk to her.”
Getting up from the couch, he picked up his clothes and dressed. “You know, if you ever feel like it, my offer is still open.”
From his flirtatious smile, I understood perfectly well what he was referring to. “Thank you, that’s kind of you.”
Clara was still in the bathroom. Before leaving, Lucas took a second to knock on the bathroom door. “Hey, don’t sweat it, okay. We all freak out sometimes, and I still think you’re one hotmamacita.”
Opening the door, Clara stood crestfallen. “Thank you, for being so nice about it.”
He gave her half a hug and a kiss on her cheek. “You know where to find me if you change your mind.”
Clara nodded and gave him a sad smile as he walked out the door. When it was just her and me, Clara looked up at me. “I don’t know why I freaked out like that. I feel so stupid.”
“No, don’t say that.” Taking her hand, I brought her back to the couch and sat down next to her. “Just take your time toprocess what happened. You met a guy you were attracted to and what were your thoughts?”
Clara fiddled with her hands and tried to find the words to describe her feelings. “I thought he was handsome and charming. Maybe it was the setting. It’s probably easier if you’re in a bar and a little tipsy, but this just went from zero to a hundred in no time. It was as if my mind wanted it, but my body wasn’t on board. It’s hard to describe, but I just didn’t feel comfortable.”
With her voice dripping with disappointment, I opened my arms. “Hey, it’s okay. Experimenting doesn’t always mean that things turn out the way you want them to.”
“I really thought that I could do it.” Clara leaned her head against my chest. “I’m so disappointed.”
For a moment, we just sat hugging and then she whispered. “Would you do me a favor, Malliko?”
“Mmm?”
“Could we just spoon and watch a movie or something? You don’t have to do anything but hold me.”
“You want a spoon?” I looked in the direction of the kitchen.
She laughed a little. “No, I don’t wantaspoon. I wanttospoon. You don’t have that saying in Lichtenstein?”
“No, I’m not sure what it means.”
“Then let me show you.” Clara took the remote control that Tania had showed me on my first day here. “First, what is your favorite movie?”
I was blank. My studies of humans hadn’t included knowledge of movies. It was enough to go through enormous amounts of data on their history and everything I could find on sexology. “I don’t have a favorite movie. What’s yours?”
“I’m a sucker for romance. And I particularly like the old-fashioned movies from before people had cell phones. Have youever seen this one?” She put in a search word and a picture popped up with of a man and a woman.
“No. I can’t say that I have.”
“Then will you watch it with me?”
She was so adorable that I smiled, nodded, and used a word I had learned from her. “Sure.”
“Okay.” Pointing to the corner of the couch, she instructed. “Then you just get comfortable lying on your side while I get us the wine.”
“No wine for me, please. I’m having water.”
She gave me a sideways glance. “I see. Are you one of those training fanatics who only live on chicken and vegetables while avoiding all things unhealthy?”
“I wouldn’t say that. Alcohol just isn’t my thing.” Using a few pillows, I got comfortable and then Clara came and placed our glasses on the coffee table. Sitting down close to me, she explained, “Spooning is to cuddle up close. Usually, the taller person is behind the smaller person. Like this.”
She lay down and moved back to be close to me. Taking my hand, she pulled it around her. The pleasant scent of her perfume and shampoo made me close my eyes and focus on my breathing.
“Is this alright?” she asked and looked back over her shoulder.
